Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate)

Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate) is an independent Eastern Orthodox Church that was established in 1992 by Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko) and Metropolitan of Kiev Volodymyr (Sabodan). The church is not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople or the Russian Orthodox Church, but has been supported by the Ukrainian government and Verkhovna Rada. The church has its roots in the Kievan Rus' and the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, which was under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church until the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine in 1991. The church is also closely tied to the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).

● History

The history of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate) is closely tied to the History of Ukraine and the History of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. The church was established in 1992, after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, when Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko) and Metropolitan of Kiev Volodymyr (Sabodan) decided to create an independent Eastern Orthodox Church in Ukraine. The church was supported by the Ukrainian government and the Verkhovna Rada, and was recognized by the Patriarch of Alexandria Patriarch Parthenius III of Alexandria and the Patriarch of Jerusalem Patriarch Diodoros I of Jerusalem. The church has also been supported by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, as well as by the European Union and the United States Department of State. The church has been involved in several Eastern Orthodox Church councils, including the Council of Florence and the Council of Jerusalem (1672).

● Organization

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate) is headed by the Patriarch of Kiev and all Rus'-Ukraine Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko), who is assisted by the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate) and the Metropolitan of Kiev Epiphanius (Dumenko). The church is divided into several eparchies, including the Kiev Eparchy, the Lviv Eparchy, and the Odessa Eparchy, which are headed by bishops such as Bishop of Kiev Bishop Epiphanius (Dumenko) and Bishop of Lviv Bishop Makariy (Maletych). The church also has several monasteries and convents, including the Kiev Pechersk Lavra and the Pochayiv Lavra, which are under the jurisdiction of the Pochayiv Monastery and the Kiev Theological Academy. The church is also closely tied to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Patriarch of Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.

● Doctrine and Practices

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate) follows the Eastern Orthodox doctrine and practices, which are based on the Holy Scripture and the Holy Tradition. The church recognizes the Seven Ecumenical Councils and the Councils of the Orthodox Church, including the First Council of Nicaea and the Second Council of Constantinople. The church also recognizes the saints and the martyrs of the Orthodox Church, including Saint Olga of Kiev and Saint Vladimir the Great. The church has a strong emphasis on liturgy and worship, and uses the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and the Liturgy of St. Basil in its services. The church also has a strong emphasis on monasticism and asceticism, and has several monasteries and convents throughout Ukraine. The church is also closely tied to the Ukrainian culture and the Ukrainian language, and uses the Ukrainian language in its services and liturgy.

● Relationship with Other Churches

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate) has a complex relationship with other Eastern Orthodox Churches, including the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The church is not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople or the Russian Orthodox Church, but has been supported by the Ukrainian government and the Verkhovna Rada. The church has also been supported by the Patriarch of Alexandria Patriarch Parthenius III of Alexandria and the Patriarch of Jerusalem Patriarch Diodoros I of Jerusalem, as well as by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine. The church is also closely tied to the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches, and has participated in several ecumenical dialogues and interfaith dialogues, including the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue and the Orthodox-Lutheran dialogue. The church has also been involved in several international organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union.

● Controversies and Conflicts

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate) has been involved in several controversies and conflicts, including the Conflict between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and the Conflict between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate) and the Russian Orthodox Church. The church has also been criticized for its nationalism and its close ties to the Ukrainian government and the Verkhovna Rada. The church has also been involved in several property disputes and legal disputes, including the dispute over the Kiev Pechersk Lavra and the dispute over the Pochayiv Lavra. The church has also been affected by the War in Donbas and the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, and has been involved in several humanitarian efforts and peace initiatives, including the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate)'s humanitarian efforts in Donbas and the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations' peace initiative. The church is also closely tied to the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian culture, and has been involved in several cultural events and social initiatives, including the Kiev International Film Festival and the Ukrainian Book Festival.

Category:Eastern Orthodox churches