WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 31st August, 2018) A unilateral granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox church in Ukraine by the Ecumenical Constantinople Patriarchate may lead to a serious schism in the pan-Orthodoxy community, former first hierarch of the Orthodox Church of America (OCA) metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) told Sputnik ahead of upcoming meeting between Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.
"I think division is possible if Constantinople goes ahead and does a unilateral action in Ukraine," Jonah said.
The only recognized church in Ukraine - the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow patriarchate (UOC-MP) - does not pursue a change of its status. However, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is trying to achieve recognition of non-canonical institutions and create a single local autocephalous church.
On Friday, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in Istanbul. It is widely expected that the two church leaders will discuss the situation with the Orthodox church in Ukraine.
Metropolitan Jonah, who is serving in Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) now, expressed cautious hope for a positive outcome during the upcoming meeting in Istanbul, but allowed for the possibility that it may lead to a division among the churches.
Jonah also noted that Moscow Patriarchate's intention is to preserve the unity of Orthodoxy.
"Patriarch Kirill is trying to act in a good faith and avoid a schism," Jonah said.
However, Jonah cited his own "reliable church sources" that the Ecumenical Patriarchate will come to the decision to granting autocephaly "if they want to proceed" and such a move can take place in the near future.
Jonah expressed confidence that Patriarch Bartholomew recognizes all the risks of granting autocephaly to the church in Ukraine, including the potential worsening of relations with Russia.
Orthodox churches operating in Ukraine, aside from the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) - a self-governing church within the Moscow Patriarchate - also include those that are not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, such as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC).
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is trying to achieve recognition of non-canonical institutions and to create a single local autocephalous church based on them.
In April, Poroshenko said that Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was launching the procedures required to establish the Autocephalous Church in Ukraine.
In response to the appeal of the Ukrainian secular authorities, the Synod of the Constantinople Patriarchate said that it had decided to be in close contact with other sister Orthodox churches to obtain their information and enable coordination regarding the request.
