Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church

Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is a major Eastern Orthodox jurisdiction in Ukraine with a complex history of establishment, suppression, and revival. Originating in the early 20th century, it has been a central institution in the movement for a national Ukrainian Orthodox Church independent from the Russian Orthodox Church. The church has faced significant political challenges, including persecution under Soviet rule, but re-emerged as a key player in Ukraine's post-independence religious landscape, advocating for autocephaly and a distinct Ukrainian identity.

History

The church was first proclaimed in 1921 during the Ukrainian War of Independence through the All-Ukrainian Orthodox Church Council in Kyiv, led by Metropolitan Vasyl Lypkivsky. This initial period, known as the "Lypkivskyschism," was marked by the controversial practice of sobornopravnist (conciliar ordination of bishops) and strong opposition from the Patriarchate of Moscow. Following the consolidation of Soviet power in Ukraine, the church was brutally suppressed by the NKVD in the late 1930s, with many clergy, including Lypkivsky, executed during the Great Purge. A diaspora church continued its work abroad, led by figures like Metropolitan Mstyslav. The UAOC was officially re-established in Ukraine in 1990, following the policies of glasnost, with Patriarch Mstyslav returning from the United States to lead it. It later became a founding component of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2018, though a smaller body continues under the original name.

Governance and structure

The church is governed by a Synod of Bishops headed by its primate, the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine. Its administrative center is historically based at Saint Andrew's Church in Kyiv. The church structure is episcopal, organized into eparchies and parishes across Ukraine. A significant characteristic of its early governance was the principle of sobornopravnist, which deviated from traditional canon law and was a major point of contention with other Eastern Orthodox Churches. The current primate is Metropolitan Macarius, who was elected following the death of Metropolitan Dimitri.

Relations with other Orthodox churches

The UAOC's quest for recognition of its autocephaly has defined its ecclesial relations. It was historically condemned by the Russian Orthodox Church and not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople until the late 20th century. The 1995 reception of its diaspora branch by the Ecumenical Patriarchate under Patriarch Bartholomew I was a pivotal moment. Its participation in the 2018 unification council that formed the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the subsequent granting of a Tomos of Autocephaly by Constantinople significantly altered the landscape, though the OCU's autocephaly is contested by the Moscow Patriarchate and some other autocephalous Orthodox churches.

Theological positions and practices

Theologically, the UAOC adheres to the doctrines and sacraments of the Eastern Orthodox Church, using the Byzantine Rite. Its liturgical language is primarily Ukrainian, though Church Slavonic is also used. A defining feature of its early practice was the aforementioned sobornopravnist. The church has been a proponent of Ukrainianization in worship and church life, emphasizing its role as a national church. It maintains the traditional Julian calendar for its liturgical year and fixed feasts.

Current status and challenges

Following the 2018 unification, the majority of the UAOC's parishes joined the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine. A smaller group, led by Metropolitan Macarius, continues to operate under the original name, not recognizing the merger. This group maintains a few hundred parishes but exists in a canonical limbo, lacking broad recognition from world Orthodoxy. Its primary challenges include navigating the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has intensified religious tensions, consolidating its institutional presence, and resolving its canonical status relative to the now-dominant OCU and the entrenched Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).

Category:Eastern Orthodox church bodies in Ukraine Category:Christian organizations established in 1921 Category:Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches Category:Religious organizations based in Kyiv