Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada – UOC-PK

TESTO IN ITALIANO

THE AUTONOMOUS ORTHODOX CHURCH OF WESTERN EUROPE AND CANADA  

His Holiness Patriarch Volodymir Romaniuk established the Holy Synod of the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada – UOC PK (Ukrainian Orthodox Church -Patriarchate of Kyiv) in December 1993 AD, immediately after his election to the Patriarchal See (14th October 1993). Immediately after the first winter session of the Holy Synod of Bishops, the Patriarchate decided to found, through Tomos, the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada, with primatial headquarters in Milan. Patriarchal Mandate of Mission was bestowed us almost 30 years ago, for service to the Ukrainian diaspora and in particular the Western Orthodox (not in the ritualistic sense) which was dear to his heart. This pastoral care was also set in place earlier on by the Moscow Patriarchate in the 1970’s and 1980’s with the hope of reviving Holy Orthodoxy amongst its western peoples.

Yet, there seems to be somewhat of a grand confusion due to poor speculation regarding the “Milan Synod” and our Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada- UOC PK: from the 20th of February of 1997 AD – these two realities are clearly two completely different entities. Hence, the Synod of Milan and Aquileia was created by the former Metropolitan of Milan (Metropolitan Evlogious Hessler + 2019) immediately after the canonical relationship between him and the Patriarch of Kiev (Patriarch Philaret) fragmented (20th February of 1997 AD) as previously mentioned above.

Hence, the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada- UOC PK, continued its canonical existence – remote from all ecclesial upheavals. Within the Holy Synod, the following members: Archbishops Lazar, and Varlam, left the Synod with canonical release (1996 AD) – entering the OCA American Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). Moreover, Metropolitan Michel Laroche and Bishop Laurence were then absorbed by the direct Omophorion (Pallium of canonical authority) of Patriarch Philaret. Furthermore, Archbishop Gregory of Aquileia reposed (1999 AD) whilst Metropolitan Evlogius (reposed 20th January 2019 AD) was then expelled by the will of Patriarch Philaret (20th February 1997).

Thus, the remaining members of the Holy Synod continued by the Tomos (decree) given to that very same Archdiocese from December of 1993 AD in safeguarding its mission (as proved in the patriarchal bull and canonical epistles of 1997 to 1998 AD between the patriarch and the two bishops: Metropolitan Basilio of Ostia and Metropolitan Volodymir of St. Julius) remaining part of the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada- UOC PK.

TEXT OF THE TOMOS IN UKRAINIAN LANGUAGE

TEXT OF THE TOMOS IN ENGLISH LANGIAGE

TEXT OF THE TOMOS IN ITALIAN LANGUAGE

TEXT OF THE TOMOS IN FRENCH LANGUAGE

Therefore, our Holy Synod has now 8 bishops along with various parishes and monasteries throughout Western Europe and Canada – exclusively at the service of the Diaspora.

THE CURRENT HOLY SYNOD OF WESTERN EUROPE AND CANADA

  1. Metropolitan Volodymir and Metropolitan Nicholas in Italy.
  2. Metropolitan Raffaele of the British Isles (in Australia).
  3. Metropolitan Cyrille and Bishop Nicholas in Canada.
  4. Metropolitan Eugene in Spain.
  5. Metropolitan Vladimir in Montenegro.
  6. Bishop Basile in France.

Thus, when the Patriarchate of Kyiv still existed canonically speaking (dissolved in 2018 AD) it ceased canonical relations with the sole Metropolitan of Milan. Yet, the same Patriarchate of Kyiv, never annulled its canonical relationship with the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada- UOC PK, for it continued to honour the Tomos (decree) bestowed upon it – remaining an active canonical entity along with its autonomous ecclesial rights of direction as decreed. In addition, the Patriarch kept cordial correspondence with the remaining two bishops as the means of communion. Hence, Metropolitans Basilio and Volodymir were never tarnished by canonical violations – continuing the exercising of episcopal authority thus ratified by Orthodox Christendom.

-LINK OF CORRESPONDANCE

Furthermore, the Holy Canons do not express in themselves regarding the possibility of a Mother Church to withdraw a Tomos (Decree) of autonomy or autocephaly, (A fact that is absent in all of ecclesial history). Such laws prescribe that, when a Metropolitan dishonour the Tomos, he is then excluded from the Holy Synod (the Patriarch intervenes). The presidency of that very synod is then awarded/passes to the most senior hierarch of the synod (i.e.: Metropolitan Basilio) whilst the former Metropolitan primate’s right to elect and consecrate bishops in the name of the Church is withheld (This is exactly what took place with the new creation entitled: Synod of Milan/Aquilea). Such rights have been conferred with the remainder of the synodal bishops, that is Vladika Basilio (reposed December 19 2021 AD) and his Eminence Metropolitan Volodymir of St. Julius Island.

In addition, these two hierarchs Metropolitans Basilio and Volodymir are the most senior bishops (Metropolitan Basil is the fifth most prominent bishop by honor and elders out of 62 total bishops to date, while Metropolitan Volodymir is seventh out of 62 bishops to date) that compose to date the Orthodox Church of Ukraine – Ecumenical Patriarchate, fully recognized by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Alexandria, Cyprus and Greece in 2018 AD. These same two metropolitans were invited as active participants by the Church in Kyiv for the Patriarchal election (1995 AD), after the repose of His Holiness Volodymir Romaniuk.

Having stated thus, no “Synod of Milan” or “Metropolis of Aquileia” may never substitute the Autonous Church which the saintly Patriarch Volodymir established along with the rights of its bishops which have never been excommunicated nor asked to vacate the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada- UOC PK. Moreover, the original copy of the Sacred Tomos was bestowed in the very hands of the Metropolitan of Milan (Metropolitan Evlogios Hessler) on the 14th March in 1994 AD for these bishops inscribed upon the holy parchment represented the Holy Synod. 

Yet, on the 20th February of 1997 AD the Metropolitan of Milan should have fulfilled his canonical duty in handing over that very Tomos to the Holy Synod – failing to do so throught withholding thus as if it were a personal document. Hence, due to such canonical violations, the Holy Synod of the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada possesses a copy of the sacred original. Yet, the original parchment is in the personal possession of the “entourage” of the so called “Metropolis of Aquileia”.

Hence, reaffirming the canonicity and continuation (as thus was never dissolved) of the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada- UOC PK, the Church in all its canonical communities is now more alive and active than ever through the protection of the Mother of God, the intercessions of our saints, and in particular, through the prayers of our saintly Patriarch Volodymir Romaniuk whose desire of service to the diaspora was close to his heart. Further, the two bishops of the ancient synod under the patronage of Patriarch Volodymir Romaniuk – Metropolitan Vasilij (Basilio – who reposed on the 19th December 2021 AD) and Metropolitan Volodymir of St. Julius remain canonically sound within the Holy Synod which was never dissolved nor tarnished; a grace from God and an irony of fate.

-LINK OF DECREE

Therefore, all that which came to pass has in actual fact allowed the survival of the diaspora of the Autonomous Orthodox Church – according to the will of the saintly Patriarch Volodymir Romaniuk! Hence, this very same canonical Church within the Diaspora lives within the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada- UOC PK, through its Eparchies, Monasteries and Parishes. 

-LINK OF PHOTOS

These same two bishops Metropolitans Basilio and Volodymir consecrated the Metropolitan of Korson (ORTHODOX CHURCH IN UKRAINE – Ecumenical Patriarchate): Vladyka Michael Laroche – who was never re-consecrated but accepted (Ecumenical Patriarchate) with all the canonical titles received by the AUTONOMOUS ORTHODOX CHURCH OF WESTERN EUROPE AND CANADA in 1996 AD. It is to be boldly noted that the Patriarch of Constantinople FULLY ACCEPTED THE ORDERS OF OUR CHURCH by admitting fully Metropolitan Michael Laroche of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (EC) Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Fanar has bestowed autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and further maintained a rather aggressive tone towards the diaspora! The Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada – UOC PK declines from casting stones towards the concept of the Great Church – embodied in the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The members that form our Holy Synod (Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada- UOC PK) from the beginning – within the 1993 AD Patriarchate of Kiev to the present were all consecrated in the Apostolic Succession of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad trought the hands of Metropolitan Vasilij of Latium and Metropolitan Volodymir of Saint Julius Island, who were its last bishops. The Holy Synod affirms that our Apostolic Succession (consecrations within the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada- UOC PK) to that (Apostolic Succession) of Patriarch Philaret differs in linage!

Although the successions mentioned are the same through the Russian Church, yet there are two different ecclesial realities within its linage. Our Church did not receive the laying on of hands by the linage of Philaret which came directly from the Patriarch of Moscow 1962 AD, our linage came from the Russian Church Abroad. Further, that the Moscow Patriarchate reduced Philaret to the status of a monk on 11th June 1992 AD with the agreement of all the Orthodox Churches including Constantinople, this puts the canonical status of our autonomous Orthodox Church on a completely different level.

Hence, the now criticized status of the current Primate “Metropolitan Epiphanius” received succession from the censured Patriarch Philaret reduced to the rank of a monk after the anathema (23rd February 1997 AD) proof of this (our canonicity) openly unfolds with the full acceptance of Vladika Lazar and Vladika Varlam of Canada. These two bishops of our synod, entered the Orthodox Church of America OCA – Moscow Patriarchate (1996AD) – without re-consecrations, rites of receptions (Herothesia) and blessings; continuing to hold their full canonical status!

Yet, when Patriarch Philaret was anathematized by Orthodox Christendom on the 23rd February in 1997 AD (in the agreement with all Orthodox Churches) it was the same Patriarch of Constantinople “who in 2009AD created a church in Kiev” the very first hierarch to sign the patriarchal bull of Anathema against Philaret! Let us bear in mind that the current primate “Metropolitan Epiphanius” of the Ukrainian Church was consecrated by the then “anathematized Patriarch Philaret” (15th November 2009AD)

Therefore, that very same primate along with all other bishops “supposedly consecrated” from that date forward, are without doubt thus deemed uncanonical. In addition, 12 out of 16 churches within Orthodox Christendom (the majority hold canonical voice) declared the currant primate and bishops under him: “void of all grace!” 

Should any ecclesial body insinuate that our Church is null and void, then the current Primate of the Ukrainian Church His Beatitude Epiphanius Dumenko is then automatically rendered null and void by that ill-founded logic– remembering that he was consecrated a bishop (2009AD) by his Holiness Pariarch Philaret of Kyiv and all Ukraine! Therefore, If one chooses to recognize half of the equation and ignore the vital formative formulas – such a choice in itself not only fails to talley, but falls apart in all logic which governs the laws of critique and in this equation: canonicity

In conclusion, the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Western Europe and Canada continues in providing service in Holy Orthodoxy via true discipleship to the mandate bestowed her throught His Holiness Volodymir Romaniuk.