Orthodox Church of Ukraine

Orthodox Church of Ukraine
Name	Orthodox Church of Ukraine
Type	Eastern Orthodox
Main classification	Eastern Orthodox Church
Polity	Autocephalous
Leader title	Primate
Leader name	Metropolitan Epiphanius
Area	Ukraine
Language	Ukrainian, Church Slavonic
Headquarters	Saint Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, Kyiv
Founded date	2018
Founded place	Kyiv

Orthodox Church of Ukraine. It is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Christian church primarily operating within the territory of Ukraine. The church received its tomos of autocephaly from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in January 2019, formalizing its canonical independence. Its primate holds the title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, currently Metropolitan Epiphanius.

History

The movement for an independent Ukrainian church has deep historical roots, tracing back to the Baptism of Kyiv in 988 and the establishment of the Metropolis of Kyiv under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Following the Union of Brest in 1596, which created the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and the later absorption of the Kyiv Metropolis into the Russian Orthodox Church in 1686, aspirations for autocephaly persisted. In the 20th century, efforts included the short-lived Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church established after the Ukrainian War of Independence. The modern church was formed through a unification council held in December 2018 at Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv, which united bishops from the former Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew signed the tomos in Istanbul on January 5, 2019, during a ceremony attended by then-President Petro Poroshenko.

Governance and structure

The church is headed by the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, who is elected by the Holy Synod. The supreme legislative and judicial authority rests with the Council of Bishops and the Local Council. Its central administrative body and the primate's residence are located at the Saint Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv. The church is organized into numerous eparchies and exarchates, including structures for diaspora communities in countries like Poland, Germany, and the United States. Key governing documents include its Statute, which was ratified following its autocephaly.

Theology and liturgy

The church adheres to the doctrinal and canonical traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church, affirming the teachings of the Seven Ecumenical Councils and the Nicene Creed. Its liturgical practice follows the Byzantine Rite, primarily utilizing the Ukrainian language, though Church Slavonic is also used in some parishes. Important liturgical texts include the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom and the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. The church venerates local saints such as Volodymyr the Great and Olga of Kyiv, and maintains the Julian calendar for its fixed feast days, while celebrating Pascha according to the Revised Julian calendar.

Relations with other churches

The grant of autocephaly by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was a source of significant controversy, leading to a schism with the Russian Orthodox Church, which severed communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The church has been recognized as autocephalous by the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Church of Greece, and the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, among others. Its relationship with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) remains tense and is intertwined with the broader context of the Russo-Ukrainian War. The church also engages in ecumenical dialogue with other Christian bodies, including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches.

Demographics and distribution

The church claims a significant portion of Orthodox believers in Ukraine, with parishes spread across most oblasts, though its presence is strongest in central and western regions. Major ecclesiastical centers include Kyiv, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk. It also oversees parishes for the Ukrainian diaspora in nations such as Canada, Australia, and Brazil. Demographic estimates vary widely due to the ongoing religious landscape transition and political factors following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Cultural and social role

The church actively participates in Ukrainian national life, promoting the use of the Ukrainian language and supporting Ukrainian cultural identity. It has been involved in charitable work, especially in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Donbas and the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, operating aid networks and supporting displaced persons. The church also plays a role in education through its Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy and other seminaries, and maintains a presence in public discourse, often commenting on social and moral issues from a traditional Orthodox perspective.

Category:Eastern Orthodox church bodies Category:Christian organizations established in 2018 Category:Religious organizations based in Ukraine