Ukraine Update:Tomos Takes Effect - Ukraine's leading presidential candidate shares her opinion

On 5 January 2018,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew,who is 78,signed into effect the Tomos of Autocephaly for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine at a ceremony in Constantinople.Attending the event in the Patriarchal Church of St.George in the Phanar,the Patriarchate's enclave in Istanbul,Turkey,was the first Primate of the new Church,His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kiyiv and All Ukraine,and President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.
On 6 January,the two Primates will concelebrate the Divine Liturgy in the same church,and afterwards Patriarch Bartholomew will present the scrolled,handwritten and illuminated Tomos manuscript to Metropolitan Epifaniy.The manuscript will then be put on public display in the Small Sofia Church in Kyiv,following the Christmas Divine Liturgy celebrated by Metropolitan Epifaniy,39,at the St.Sofia Cathedral,the large church in the national heritage site,which will be filled with dignitaries attending the service,including intellectual and cultural figures.The general public will be able to pray in the cathedral courtyard in front of a big screen TV.*
The leading presidential candidate in the March election in Ukraine,Yulia Tymoshenko,praised the Tomos in a Facebook post,calling its signing:
a big and bright day in our national history.
The Tomos is a landmark.This is a symbol of the spiritual identity of the nation and a huge inspiration for the unity of Ukraine.May the Lord help us on our way.With faith in Ukraine;with faith in a better future.Onward,Ukraine!*
Ms.Tymoshenko,who was prime minister of Ukraine from 2007-10,currrently has a wide lead over her rivals,including the incumbent Mr.Poroshenko.She supports Ukraine's joining NATO and the European Union.

New Developments From Ukraine:Details About the Unifying Council Revealed

Addressing a forum on Local Self-Government,Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has disclosed that the Unifying Council for the new Ukrainian Orthodox Church will take place on 15 December 2018 at Kiev's St.Sophia Cathedral,for centuries the centre of Ukraine's religious life.President Poroshenko also said that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has sent letters to the hierarchs of the three extant Ukrainian Orthodox Churches,including the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate,inviting them to participate in the very important and historic Council.*
A recipient of the letter posted it on the Internet.The Council will be overseen by His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France,assisted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate's two exarchs to Ukraine.The delegates of the Council will be hierarchs,priests,monks and laity from the three churches.They will approve the charter for the new Church that was drafted by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,and elect the first Primate of the new Church.President Poroshenko will be present at the Council.*
Mr.Poroshenko told the forum that:
Now,colossal responsibility lies with the hierarchs of the Ukrainian churches-to hold the Council in peace,harmony,in the spirit of Christian love and patriotism,to elect the Primate who will go to Constantinople/Istanbul and receive the Tomos.

Ukraine:Ecumencial Patriarchate Delegation Meets with President Poroshenko,Delivers Letter

A delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople met with President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine in Kiev on 27 July 2018.The delegation was attending the 1030th anniversary celebrations of the baptism of Kievan Rus,ancient predecessor of the modern Ukrainian state,in 988.Representing the First Holy See of the Orthodox Church were His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France;His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Pamphilon and the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (Ecumenical Patriarchate);and His Grace Bishop Ilarion of Edmonton and the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (Ecumenical Patriarchate).
At the meeting,Bishop Ilarion read a letter from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to President Poroshenko,in which the Patriarch stated:
Recognising the high responsibility of the First Holy See Church of Constantinople,which never ceased,and did not reconcile to illegal and non-canonical situations that shocked the natural functioning of the Orthodox Church - during these crucial times,it took the initiative to restore the unity of the Orthodox believers of Ukraine,with the ultimate goal of granting autocephaly (independence) to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.*
By way of context,His All-Holiness recalled:
The newly baptised nation came under the spiritual guidance,unrestrained care and church cover of the Church of Constantinople through the creation of the Metropolis of Kiyiv and All Rus,which became the 60th Metropolis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.*
For his part,President Poroshenko noted that:
This is an historical moment for Ukraine and the Ukrainian Church,to return to the fold of the Mother Church.*
Additionally,Metropolitan Emmanuel made a strong statement of support for autocephaly:
We are proud to be here today to celebrate this anniversary,which is at a very important moment,since the decision of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has paved the way for a new era.The Mother Church already passed the ruling on April 20 of this year - namely,to begin the procedure for achieving the ultimate goal:to provide autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.*
The Ecumenical Patriarchate cannot remain blind and deaf to the appeals that have been repeated for more than a quarter of a century.Sons of the Ukrainian Church and its leaders have the right to their place among the Churches.*
We are sure that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is on your side.You will not be orphaned,because the Mother Church will find a way to become involved in your progress,your success,your growth in the faith of Christ.*
Analysis:It could not be plainer that autocephaly for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is desired by the Ecumenical Patriarchate,yet the timing remains a complete mystery.Many observers thought this anniversary would be the occasion for the issuance of a tomos of autocephaly.

Major Decision on Ukraine by the Ecumenical Patriarchate Could Be Near

On 22 April 2018,the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople issued a reply to a formal request by President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine that autocephaly (independence) be granted to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.The President's request had been made both in person and by letter,with the approval of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) and two of the three jurisdictions of Orthodox in Ukraine,the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.The Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate is not in favour of the initiative.*
President Poroshenko had initially requested autonomy for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 2016.The new request for autocephaly was made in earnest when the President was received by His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew on 9 April 2018.The meeting lasted a lengthy 90 minutes and the seriousness of the agenda was reflected by the number and stature of the Patriarch's advisors who attended the animated and profound discussions:
His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon,eminent theologian;
His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidoforos of Proussos (Bursa,Turkey);
His Eminence Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna (Izmir,Turkey);
His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmessos ,eminent theologian;and
the Very Rev.Archimandrite Joachim Billis,Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod.
Addressing the Verkhovna Rada on 19 April,Mr.Poroshenko said:
Having our own Church is an attribute of an independent nation.The state shouldn't interfere in religious affairs;furthermore,a foreign nation (Russia) doesn't have the right to interfere in the religious affairs of Ukraine.*
A letter from President Poroshenko to Patriarch Bartholomew containing the request was hand-delivered by an emissary on 20 April.On 22 April,the Ecumenical Patriarchate replied:
In accordance with the Divine and Sacred Canons,as well as centuries-old ecclesiastical order and Holy Tradition-the Ecumenical Patriarchate concerns itself with the preservation of Pan-Orthodox unity and the care for Orthodox Christians around the world-especially of the Ukrainian Orthodox Nation that has received the salvific Christian faith and holy baptism from Constantinople.Thus,as it is the true Mother Church,it examined matters pertaining to the ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine,as done in previous synodal sessions,and having received from ecclesiastical and civil authorities representing millions of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians-a petition that requests the bestowal of autocephaly,decided to closely communicate and coordinate with its sister Orthodox Churches concerning the matter.*
By way of historical context,the Ecumenical Patriarchate has in recent times granted a tomos (official recognition) of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria in 1998 and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia in 2014;as well as a tomos of autonomy to the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church in 1996.As well.the Ecumenical Patriarchate received into its jurisdiction groups of Ukrainian Orthodox parishes in both the USA and Canada.These North American metropolises both strongly support autocephaly for the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.*
President Poroshenko has requested a decision on autocephaly by 28 July 2018,the 1030th anniversary of the baptism of Kyivan Rus,so it could come any time now.Some see the fact that the President  has made such a public appeal is a sign that he believes the Ecumenical Patriarchate is leaning his way.*
There are also reports that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been considering establishing metochia (embassy churches) in two Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv and Lviv.

NATO Official Gives Major Update on the Ukraine Crisis - says Russia on a backward course

On 6 April 2017 at Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv,Ukraine,NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemueller gave a major address on the situation in Ukraine,Russian foreign policy and NATO's response to it,including Ukraine's special relationship with the Alliance.Here are several excerpts of her speech attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and other Ukrainian dignitaries:
Since Russian forces first set foot on sovereign Ukraine in 2014,the NATO Alliance has spoken with one voice.We do not and we will not recognise Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea and its ongoing destabilisation of the east of Ukraine.
In recent weeks,violence has increased.The latest report from the UN Human Rights Office highlights a dire situation:increased civilian suffering,with tens of thousands of people deprived of even the most basic of necessities.It estimates the death toll from the conflict to be almost 10,000 people,including more than 2,000 civilians.
Last week,Foreign Ministers from across the Alliance met in Brussels to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine.Ministers were briefed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Klimkin and then discussed the current security situation in the east of Ukraine and Crimea.NATO Foreign Ministers condemned Russia's ongoing hostility and occupation and confirmed that Crimea-related sanctions must remain in place until Russia returns control of the peninsula to Ukraine.*
For as long as NATO has had partners,not long after the end of the Cold War,Ukraine has had a mission at NATO headquarters-one of the largest of all our partners-and NATO has more than 50 staff here in Kyiv.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have greatly improved their capabilities in recent years.Ukraine sends more people on NATO courses than any other partner,and NATO commanders enjoy close relationships with their Ukrainian counterparts.Ukraine has committed to reforming its security and defence sector in line with Euro-Atlantic standards and principles,and we have a sizable team of NATO advisors here on the ground to help support these reforms.
Ukraine actively contributes to Euro-Atlantic security in many ways.Indeed,it is the only partner country that has contributed,at one stage or another,to all ongoing NATO-led operations and missions.Right now,Ukraine has a heavy engineering unit in Kosovo and 10 people serving under a NATO flag as part of our Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.Over the last two years,Ukraine has contributed strategic airlift,naval and medical capabilities to the NATO Response Force.
Beyond these specific missions,NATO is also learning a great deal from Ukraine's ongoing experience of hybrid warfare.Every country in the NATO Alliance,as well as many of our partners,have been affected by Russia's ongoing efforts to destabilise our democracies;cyber attacks;and most controversially,direct interference in our elections.But none has been affected like Ukraine.
Ukraine has been the prime battleground of this new type of warfare.Military operations;cyber attacks;propaganda and 'fake news' are all just points on the continuum of conflict with the aim of advancing Russian political objectives.
This is a decidedly backward approach to foreign policy-a policy of domination over its neighbours-and it is vital that we learn all that we can if we are to effectively combat it in the future.To do this,NATO and Ukraine are establishing a Platform on Countering Hybrid Warfare.Through this platform,we will improve our ability to recognise and attribute hybrid attacks.We will actively identify areas of vulnerability and strengthen resilience.Areas like critical infrastructure,strategic communications and crisis management.*
Russia's aggressive actions against Ukraine these last few years have had a lasting impact both here and far beyond this land.NATO has responded.For the first time in a generation,NATO has had to focus on 'collective defence'.
As I speak,we are deploying multinational forces to countries in the east of our Alliance and have substantial forces available at very short notice to provide reinforcements if they are needed.And for the first time in many years,defence spending across the Alliance is going up.*
At this posting,NATO's exercise Combined Resolve VIII is underway in Germany.Ukraine is one of 10 NATO member-states and partners participating in these extensive warfighting drills.

Ecumenical Patriarchate Responds to Ukrainian Parliament,Sends Representative to Meet With President Poroshenko

The Ecumenical Patriarchate is intensifying its involvement in the issue of Orthodox Church unity in Ukraine:
First,it has established a special synodal commission to examine the Verkhovna Rada,or Ukkrainian Parliament,appeal for the Ecumenical Patriarchate to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.In a previous appeal,which the Ecumenical Patriarchate did not respond to,the Verkhovna Rada recently asked His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to issue a Tomos of Autocephaly and to recognise that the 1686 act transferring the Metropolitanate of Kiev to the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church in defiance of canon law was invalid.*
The good news for Ukraine is that "Orthodoxy without Moscow" (in light of the holding of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church despite Moscow's non-attendance) can undertake a sober and serious consideration of Ukraine's bid for autocephaly,wrote Ukrainian columnist Andrew Sorokowski.*
Second,on 29 July 2016,the Ecumenical Patriarchate sent a representative,His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmessos,to Kiev for a meeting with the President of Ukraine,Petro Poroshenko.Mr.Poroshenko said he was grateful that the Mother Church of Constantinople is now attending to the issue of a single national Orthodox Church,referring to the special commission set up to look into the proposal for Ukrainian autocephaly,according to the Presidential Press Office.The President assured Archbishop Job that the Ukrainian authorities are united in their aspiration for a single national Orthodox Church and noted that the given issue is becoming increasingly topical against the backdrop of global challenges.We should help the believers implement their aspirations on the single Church.*
For his part,Archbishop Job conveyed the greetings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the entire Mother Church of Constantinople.He assured the President that the Ecumenical Patriarch wants to help Ukraine.The two then discussed the role of state and Church in the prevention of the use of the religious factor for destabilisation of the situation in Ukraine.The President said the task of the government was not to give opportunities to provoke inter-religious and inter-confessional conflicts and expressed satisfaction with the recent work of the law enforcement bodies.*
Mr.Poroshenko also congratulated the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the successful holding of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church:
I think it has approved and strengthened the authority of His All-Holiness in the Orthodox world,Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told the Patriarchal representative,His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmessos.*
There are currently three Orthodox jurisdictions in Ukraine,the largest of which,and the only one of which is recognised by the other Orthodox Churches,is under the primacy of Metropolitan Onufry of the Patriarchate of Moscow and All Russia.The other two jurisdictions desire autocephaly.