Informed sources report a number of new developments in the process of forming the new autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church.Firstly,on 15 November 2018,His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France will arrive in Ukraine to oversee final preparations for the Uninfying Council that will organise the new Church and elect its first Primate.The new Primate will not be titled "Patriarch."Nor will Metropolitan Filaret,formerly Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate,or Metropolitan Makariy,formerly head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church,be on the ballot.At the Ecumenical Patriarchate's request,they have written letters withdrawing themselves from the process.Indeed,they will not even attend the Unifying Council,in order to prevent divisions from forming around them.
Speculation on the first Primate of the new Church centers on Archbishop Job (Getcha) of Telmessos and Archbishop Daniel of Pamphilon (Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA).Both are hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.Archbishop Daniel was born in Ukraine;while Archbishop Job was born in Montreal,Canada of Ukrainian descent.*
The Unifying Council will be tightly managed.By the time it begins,the texts of both the Charter of the new Church and the Tomos of Autocephaly will have been completed.Furthermore,while the new Church will be independent,the Ecumenical Patriarchate must approve at least the first Primate.In addition,the Government of Ukraine must convey twenty farmsteads claimed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.*
Analysis:If these initial reports are borne out,the new Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be a very disciplined body from its inception.The Ecumenical Patriarchate is being firm and cautious in its approach,as indeed it has been from the beginning of the autocephaly process.It fosters humility as the surest pathway to success.
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