View source for Unification council of the Eastern Orthodox churches of Ukraine

{{Short description|2018 council to unite all main Eastern Orthodox churches of Ukraine into one church}}
{{Infobox ecumenical council
|council_name=Unification council of the Eastern Orthodox churches of Ukraine
|image=Cathedral Of St Sophia (234807753).jpeg
|council_date=15 December 2018
|accepted_by=[[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]], [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]
|convoked_by=[[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]
|president={{Interlanguage link|Metropolitan Emmanuel (Adamakis) of France|lt=|fr|Emmanuel Adamakis|WD=}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://112.international/society/metropolitan-emmanuel-of-france-to-chair-unification-assembly-of-ukrainian-orthodox-church-34938.html|title=Metropolitan Emmanuel of France to chair Unification Assembly of Ukrainian Orthodox church|website=112.international}}</ref>
|location=[[Saint Sophia's Cathedral, Kyiv]]
|topics=Unification of all the main Eastern Orthodox churches of Ukraine ([[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate|UOC-KP]], [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church|UAOC]], [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)|UOC-MP]]) into one single church ([[Orthodox Church of Ukraine|OCU]]), election of the primate of this church and adoption of its charter
|attendance=192 or 200
|caption=[[Saint Sophia's Cathedral, Kyiv]], where the council took place|documents=Charter of the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]}}
The '''Unification council of the Eastern Orthodox churches of Ukraine''' ({{langx|uk|Об'єднавчий собор українських православних церков|lit=Unity [[Synod#Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox|Sobor]] of Ukrainian (Eastern) Orthodox Churches}}) is a council which was held on 15 December 2018 in the [[Saint Sophia's Cathedral, Kyiv|St Sophia's Cathedral]] in [[Kyiv]]. The council voted to unite the existing Ukrainian [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] churches (the [[UOC-KP]], the [[UAOC]] and parts of the [[UOC-MP]]) through their representatives, on the basis of complete canonical independence. All the members of the [[UOC-KP]] and the [[UAOC]], and two members of the [[UOC-MP]], merged into the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]] and the unification council elected [[Epiphanius I (Metropolitan of Kyiv)|Epiphanius I]] as its first [[Primate (bishop)|primate]].
== History ==
=== Three Eastern Orthodox churches in Ukraine ===
{{See|Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)|Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church|Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate}}{{See|Filaret (Denysenko)}}Since the end of the 20th century, three [[Eastern Orthodox]] jurisdictions have existed in Ukraine.
* The [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)]] (UOC-MP) which is part of the Russian Orthodox Church and thus under the [[Moscow Patriarchate]]. This church was, until 11 October 2018, the only Orthodox church in Ukraine recognized by other Orthodox churches.
* The [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]] (UAOC), led by [[Makariy (Maletych)|Metropolitan Makariy]], which was independent, having been founded in 1921 following the establishment of the short-lived [[Ukrainian People's Republic]] and having survived the Soviet Union both outside and inside the country.
* The [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate]] (UOC-KP), led by Patriarch [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]] of Kyiv, an independent church which was founded in July 1992. In January 1992, after Ukraine gained its independence from the [[Soviet Union]] following [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|its dissolution]], [[List of Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Kiev#Metropolitans of Kiev and All Ukraine (1990–present)|Metropolitan of Kyiv]] Filaret of the UOC-MP<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/archive/en/2003/02/ne301031/|title=Mikhail Denisenko (former Metropolitan Filaret of Kyiv) tries to improve his image through the UN : Russian Orthodox Church.|date=3 February 2003|website=mospat.ru|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref> convened an assembly at the [[Kyiv Pechersk Lavra]] that adopted a request for autocephaly to the Moscow Patriarch.<ref name=":292">{{Cite web|url=http://ukrainianweek.com/History/64556|title=Freeing Ukraine from Spiritual Dependence|last=Podobied|first=Pavlo|date=8 November 2012|website=ukrainianweek.com|type=History of the churches in Ukraine|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref><ref name="221781autocephaly2">[http://ukrainianweek.com/Politics/221781 After autocephaly], [[The Ukrainian Week]] (26 October 2018) {{in lang|uk}} [https://gazeta.ua/articles/life/_vselenskij-patriarhat-oprilyudniv-dokumenti-na-pidtrimku-ukrayinskoyi-avtokefaliyi/859088 The Ecumenical Patriarchate unveiled documents in support of Ukrainian autocephaly], [[Gazeta.ua]] (14 September 2018)</ref> The Patriarchate of Moscow did not comply and asked Filaret to resign.<ref name=":292" /><ref name=":402">{{Cite news|url=http://orthochristian.com/116586.html|title=Official History of the Defrocking and Anathematization of Philaret Denisenko. Documents of the June 1992, 1994, and 1997 Bishops' Councils of the Russian Orthodox Church|date=17 October 2018|website=orthochristian.com|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref> Filaret did not resign and was suspended on 27 May 1992 by the UOC-MP.<ref name=":402" /><ref name=":532">{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/istorija-i-kulytrua/42446-to-the-anniversary-of-kharkov-council-or-a-few-words-about-how-m-a-denisenko-was-expelled-from-churc|title=To the anniversary of Kharkov Council, or a few words about how M.A. Denisenko was "expelled" from Church|date=25 May 2017|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-21}}</ref> The bishops loyal to Metropolitan Filaret and a similar group from the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]] organized a unifying synod which was held on 25–26 June 1992. The delegates agreed to form a combined church named the ''[[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate|Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate]]'' under a patriarch they elected, [[Patriarch Mstyslav (Stepan Skrypnyk)|Mstyslav]] of the UAOC.<ref name=":532" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://ukrainianweek.com/Society/64554|title=Filaret: A Statehood-oriented Patriarch|last=Losiev|first=Ihor|date=8 November 2012|website=ukrainianweek.com|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref> Mstyslav never approved the union between the UAOC and the UOC-KP.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxchurch.htm|title=Ukrainian Orthodox church|website=www.encyclopediaofukraine.com|access-date=2019-01-09}}</ref>  Filaret was [[Defrocking|defrocked]] on 11 July 1992 by the Russian Orthodox Church.<ref name=":402" /> After the death of Patriarch Mstyslav in 1993, the UOC-KP was headed by [[Patriarch Volodomyr (Romaniuk)|Patriarch Volodymyr]]. In July 1995, upon the death of Volodymyr, Filaret was elected head of the UOC-KP by a vote of 160-5.<ref name=":2" /> Filaret was [[Anathema#Orthodoxy|anathematized]] by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/en/2018/10/15/news165263/|title=Statement by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church concerning the encroachment of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the canonical territory of the Russian Church|author=The Russian Orthodox Church|website=mospat.ru|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-31|quote=By the decision of the Bishops’ Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which took place on May 27, 1992, in Kharkov, Metropolitan Philaret (Denisenko), for his failure to fulfil the promises he gave on oath at the cross and the Gospel during the previous Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, was removed from the see of Kyiv and suspended.<br />The Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, by its Resolution of June 11, 1992, confirmed the decision of the Council of Kharkov and deposed Philaret Denisenko depriving him of all ranks of ministry according to the following accusations: ‘Cruel and arrogant attitude to the clergy under his jurisdiction, diktat and blackmail (Tit. 1: 7-8; Apostolic Canon 27; bringing temptation to the community of the faithful by his behaviour and private life (Mt. 18:7; the First Ecumenical Council Canon 3, the Sixth Ecumenical Council Canon 5); perjury (Apostolic Canon 25); public slander and blasphemy against a Bishops’ Council (Second Ecumenical Council Canon 6); exercising divine offices including ordinations in the state of suspension (Apostolic Canon 28); causing a schism in the Church (Double Council Canon 15). All the ordinations administered by Philaret in the state of suspension since May 27, 1992, and the suspensions imposed by him were recognized as invalid.<br />In spite of repeated calls to repentance, Philaret Denisenko after his deposition continued his schismatic activity, also within other Local Churches. By the decision of the 1997 Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, he was anathematized.}}</ref><ref name=":402" />
The UAOC and the UOC-KP were not recognized by other Orthodox churches and were considered schismatic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxia.info/news/breaking-news-ep-reinstates-ukraines-patriarch-filaret-archbishop-makariy/|title=BREAKING NEWS: EP reinstates Ukraine's Patriarch Filaret, Archbishop Makariy|last=Loudaros|first=Andreas|date=11 October 2018|website=Orthodoxia.info|access-date=12 January 2019}}</ref> ROC officials stated that the anathematization of Filaret was "recognized by all the Local Orthodox Churches including the Church of Constantinople".<ref name=":292" /><ref name="221781autocephaly2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/en/2018/10/15/news165263/|title=Statement by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church concerning the encroachment of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the canonical territory of the Russian Church {{!}} The Russian Orthodox Church|website=mospat.ru|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-31|quote=In spite of repeated calls to repentance, Philaret Denisenko after his deposition continued his schismatic activity, also within other Local Churches. By the decision of the 1997 Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, he was anathematized. These decisions were recognized by all the Local Orthodox Churches including the Church of Constantinople.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/en/2018/10/22/news165617/|title=Metropolitan Hilarion: Filaret Denisenko was and remains a schismatic {{!}} The Russian Orthodox Church|website=mospat.ru|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-30|quote=For us Filaret was and remains a schismatic. [...] [T]he decision of his excommunication in 1997 was correct in every respect. It was recognized by all Local Churches without any exception, the Patriarchate of Constantinople including.}}</ref> The synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate did indeed recognize, in a July 1992 letter to [[Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow|Patriarch Alexy II]], the defrocking of Filaret by the ROC,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romfea.gr/oikoumeniko-patriarxeio/24406-apokleistiko-otan-o-oikoumenikos-patriarxis-anagnorize-tin-kathairesi-tou-filaretou|script-title=el:ΑΠΟΚΛΕΙΣΤΙΚΟ: Όταν ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης αναγνώριζε την καθαίρεση του Φιλάρετου!|date=16 October 2018|website=ROMFEA|language=el-gr|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref><ref name=":63">{{Cite web|url=http://orthochristian.com/116803.html|title=Patriarch Bartholomew's 1997 acceptance of anathematization of Philaret Denisenko|date=25 October 2018|website=orthochristian.com|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref><ref name=":402"/>  and the Ecumenical Patriarch recognized the anathematization of Filaret in a letter of April 1997 to Patriarch Alexy II.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/april-7-1997-patriarch-bartholomews-letter-taking-note-of-filaret-denisenkos-anathematization/|title=April 7, 1997 Patriarch Bartholomew's letter taking note of Filaret Denisenko's anathematization|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-10-26|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romfea.gr/oikoumeniko-patriarxeio/24616-otan-o-oikoumenikos-patriarxis-to-1997-apodexthike-to-anathema-tou-filaretou|script-title=el:Όταν ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης το 1997 αποδέχθηκε το ανάθεμα του Φιλαρέτου|date=26 October 2018|website=ROMFEA|language=el-gr|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref><ref name=":63"/>
=== Previous attempts at unification ===
In 2002, [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret Denisenko]] said: "The Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate [UOC-KP] and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church [UAOC], are not separated in faith, by position as to church canons, by their views on building up the Ukrainian state. Therefore, as we have no disagreements between us".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/expert_thought/interview/38294/|title=Interview with Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko)|date=26 March 2002|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2019-01-22}}</ref>
In October 2009 Bishop [[Makariy (Maletych)]] formulated the idea of a single local Ukrainian church under the Ecumenical Patriarchate's jurisdiction, which would be the result of the union between the UAOC and the UOC-KP. At that time Makariy had not yet become the head of the UAOC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/expert_thought/interview/31893/|title=I would like in ten years for Ukraine to already have a unified national church!|date=1 October 2009|website=risu.org.ua|language=en|type=Interview with Bishop MAKARII (Meletych), Archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, on the affairs of the UAOC, its relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and inter-Orthodox relations in Ukraine|access-date=2018-11-17}}</ref> Patriarch [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]], the head of the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate|UOC-KP]], expressed support for the idea of a united autocephalous Ukrainian church in October 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/44786/|title=Patriarch Filaret Presents His Vision of Unification With UAOC|date=10 October 2011|website=risu.org.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/monitoring/society_digest/44785/|title=Про автокефалію та необхідність єднання її прихильників|date=8 October 2011|website=risu.org.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-11-17}}</ref>
Preparations for unification of the UAOC and the UOC-KP took place in 2011 between the episcopates of both churches.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/45152/|title=1st Session of Committees of Kyivan Patriarchate and Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church on Unification Held|date=31 October 2011|website=risu.org.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-11-17}}</ref> In the end, the unification council between the two churches, which was scheduled to take place on 14 September 2015 between the UAOC and the UOC-KP, never took place as both churches could not agree on the future statutes of a united Ukrainian church.<ref name=":31">{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/confessional/interchurch_relations/60308/|title=Synod of the UOC-KP announces the Local Unification Councilto be held on September 14|date=19 June 2015|website=risu.org.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-11-17}}</ref><ref name=":45">{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/60381/|title=Patriarch Filaret to UAOC hierarchs: setting forth new knowingly unacceptable conditions is an attempt to disrupt unification|date=30 June 2015|website=risu.org.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-11-17}}</ref><ref name=":46">{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/60498/|title=Kyiv Patriarchate disappointed with yet another breakdown of negotiations with the UAOC|date=10 July 2015|website=risu.org.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/60274/|title=Metropolitan Makariy (Maletych): unification council may fail to occur|date=16 June 2015|website=risu.org.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-11-17}}</ref> This unification attempt therefore failed,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Denysenko|first=Nicholas|date=11 December 2018|title=The Struggle for Ukrainian Autocephaly: Subversion and Canonicity|url=https://www.academia.edu/37973003|language=en|pages=15|via=Academia.edu}}</ref> Makariy blamed this failure on Philaret's inability to negotiate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://orthochristian.com/116715.html|title="I have doubts" about unification process—Makary of Ukrainian Autocephalous Church|date=22 October 2018|website=orthochristian.com|access-date=2018-11-17}}</ref> Before this, according to Filaret in 2015, the UAOC and the UOC-KP already had had four attempts at negotiations in the previous 20 years, the 2015 negotiation being the fifth.<ref name=":46" /> On 14 December 2018, Makariy declared in an interview to the channel ''NEWSONE'' that the UOC-KP and the UAOC could have been united "years ago" and blamed the UOC-KP for the fact that this union never happened.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://orthochristian.com/117931.html|title=Autocephaly possible thanks to foreign diplomats, was impeded by 'Kyiv Patriarchate' lies, Constantinople-Ukrainian leader says|date=15 December 2018|website=orthochristian.com|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=NEWSONE|title=Американский след Томоса: кто "давит" на украинских священников – в "Радаре" на NEWSONE 14.12.18|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTCUk5bWFWg|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref>
=== After the October 2018 decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate ===
{{See also|2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism|Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine#Process of granting autocephaly to the Orthodox church in Ukraine}}
Following the 11 October 2018 decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to lift the excommunication of the UOC-KP and the UAOC and to grant autocephaly to Ukraine,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patriarchate.org/announcements/-/asset_publisher/MF6geT6kmaDE/content/communiq-1?_101_INSTANCE_MF6geT6kmaDE_languageId=en_US|title=Announcement (11/10/2018). - Announcements - The Ecumenical Patriarchate|website=www.patriarchate.org|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-12}}</ref> preparations began for a unification council to institute an autocephalous Ukrainian church that would unite the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate|UOC-KP]], the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church|UAOC]], and those members of the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)|UOC-MP]] who were willing to join.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10307247-new-local-orthodox-church-in-ukraine-explained.html|title=New Local Orthodox Church in Ukraine: Explained|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en|quote="Press secretary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP), Archbishop Yevstratiy (Zorya) says [...] nearly 10 bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate (MP) support the unification process, and it will be clear how many will take part in the unification council in the process of its preparation. Zorya predicts that after receiving a tomos, the majority of those who are now part of the Moscow Patriarchate will join the Ukrainian Church. "According to my forecasts, this will continue for several years and, as a result, at least two-thirds of those who are with the MP will join the Ukrainian church," he said."}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/constantinople-patriarchate-recognizes-kyiv-patriarch-filaret-as-legitimate.html|title=Constantinople recognizes Kyiv Patriarch Filaret as church bishop|date=2018-10-11|work=KyivPost|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en-US|quote=Moreover, the Synod approved plans to create an autocephalous (independent) Ukrainian church. The Kyiv Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church are planning to merge with pro-independence bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate into an independent (autocephalous) Ukrainian church, which is expected to get a tomos — a Synod decree recognizing the independence of the Ukrainian church from the Constantinople church. 'This decision gives us the opportunity to unite with bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate who are willing (to join),' Filaret said on Oct. 11. He said that the Kyiv Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and some of the Ukrainian bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate would soon hold a congress to create a united church, and elect their head. In May Sofroniy, the Moscow Patriarchate's metropolitan of Cherkasy and Kaniv, said that up to 10 out of 53 bishops from the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine supported the autocephaly of the Ukrainian church.}}</ref> The date of this unification council was not set at that stage and, according to Filaret Denisenko, was up to the Patriarch of Constantinople to decide but he said he hoped that thanks to his church's efforts this council could take place before the end of 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10313619-church-unification-council-s-convocation-depends-on-ecumenical-patriarch-patriarch-filaret.html|title=Church Unification Council's convocation depends on Ecumenical Patriarch – Patriarch Filaret|date=26 October 2018|work=unian.info|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10311315-kyiv-patriarchate-hopes-to-hold-church-unification-council-before-year-end.html|title=Kyiv Patriarchate hopes to hold Church Unification Council before year-end|date=24 October 2018|work=unian.info|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en}}</ref> Filaret said that the issue of jurisdictional affiliation of parishes would be decided by vote of the congregation of each parish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://112.international/ukraine-top-news/two-thirds-of-parish-should-approve-shift-to-united-ukrainian-orthodox-church-patriarch-filaret-33563.html|title=Two-thirds of parish should approve shift to United Ukrainian Orthodox Church, - Patriarch Filaret|date=26 October 2018|website=112.international|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-27}}</ref> It was believed that a united Ukrainian church was a compulsory step before Ukraine could be granted the ''Tomos'' (formal decree) of autocephaly from the Patriarch of Constantinople.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2018-10-12/ecumenical-patriarchate-recognises-independence-orthodox-metropolis|title=The Ecumenical Patriarchate recognises the independence of the Orthodox metropolis of Kyiv|date=2018-10-12|work=OSW|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en|quote=At the same time, the synod decided that autocephaly may be granted only to the united metropolis of Kyiv, and not to the several parallel Orthodox structures on the same territory. [...] The recognition of the canonical legitimacy of the two church structures (the KP UOC and the UAOC), which had hitherto been regarded as schismatic, may be assumed to be just a temporary step, aimed at facilitating the reunification of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church into a single organisation.}}</ref>
On 12 October 2018, the UOC-KP communicated that the 11 October decision by the Ecumenical Patriarchate had restored the canonical recognition of the episcopate and clergy of the Kyiv Patriarchate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerkva.info/posts/zaiava-pres-tsentru-kyivskoi-patriarkhii-shchodo-rishennia-sviashchennoho-synodu-konstantynopolskoi-materi-tserkvy-ta-ikhnie-znachennia-dlia-tserkvy-v-ukraini|title=Заява Прес-центру Київської Патріархії про рішення Священного Синоду Константинопольської Матері-Церкви та їхнє значення для Церкви в Україні|date=12 October 2018|website=cerkva.info|access-date=2018-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/56582-v-kijevskom-patriarkhate-otkazalisy-ispolnyaty-reshenije-fanara-po-filaretu|title=Kyiv Patriarchate declines to implement the Phanar's decision on Filaret|date=12 October 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-01}}</ref> However, it was later clarified that [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]] was considered by the Ecumenical Patriarchate only as "the former metropolitan of Kyiv",<ref name=":30">{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/56602-fanar-schitajet-filareta-prostym-jepiskopom-bez-kafedry|title=Phanar considers Filaret an ordinary bishop without an episcopal see|date=14 October 2018|website=spzh.news|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref><ref name=":693">{{Cite web|url=https://www.romfea.gr/epikairotita-xronika/25568-apokleistiko-bartholomaios-se-onoufrio-den-mporeite-na-exete-pleon-ton-titlo-kiebou|title=ΑΠΟΚΛΕΙΣΤΙΚΟ {{!}} Βαρθολομαίος σε Ονούφριο: ''Δεν μπορείτε να έχετε πλέον τον τίτλο Κιέβου''|date=7 December 2018|website=ROMFEA|language=el-gr|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref><ref name=":04">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10367883-patriarch-bartholomew-explains-metropolitan-onufriy-reasons-for-ukraine-church-s-autocephaly-letter.html|title=Patriarch Bartholomew explains Metropolitan Onufriy reasons for Ukraine church's autocephaly (Letter)|date=7 December 2018|website=unian.info|access-date=2018-12-29}}</ref><ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=https://112.international/ukraine-top-news/filaret-is-former-metropolitan-of-kyiv-makariy-ex-lviv-archbishop-ecumenical-patriarch-40231.html|title=Filaret is not Kyiv Patriarch anymore, - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew|date=30 May 2019|website=112.international|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=15148|title=Kyiv Patriarchate does not exist, never existed - Patriarch Bartholomew|date=3 June 2019|website=www.interfax-religion.com|access-date=2019-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecupatria.org/2019/06/08/ecumenical-patriarch-met-the-national-union-of-journalists-of-ukraine/|title=Ecumenical Patriarch met the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine|date=2019-06-08|website=Ecumenical Patriarchate Permanent Delegation to the World Council of Churches|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-13}}</ref> and [[Makariy (Maletych)|Makariy]] as "the former Archbishop of Lviv"<ref name=":693" /><ref name=":04" /><ref name=":15" /> and, on 2 November, that the Ecumenical Patriarchate did not recognize either the UAOC or the UOC-KP as legitimate and that their respective leaders were not recognized as primates of their churches.<ref name=":52">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-46067230|title=Константинополь: "Надеемся, Москва обратится к разуму". Подробности беседы|date=2018-11-02|work=BBC News Русская служба|access-date=2018-11-03|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":332">{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/bbc-interview-with-archbishop-job-of-telmessos-on-the-ukrainian-question/|title=BBC interview with Archbishop Job of Telmessos on the Ukrainian question|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=6 November 2018|website=orthodoxie.com|access-date=2018-11-07}}</ref> The Ecumenical Patriarchate declared that it recognized the [[sacrament]]s performed by the UOC-KP and the UAOC as valid.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/56705-konstantinopoly-priznal-kanonichnym-vesy-klir-upc-kp-i-uapc--ekzarkh-fanara|title=Exarch: Constantinople recognizes all clergy of KP and UAOC as canonical|date=16 October 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://orthochristian.com/116578.html|title=Constantinople recognized all clergy of KP and UAOC as canonical—Patriarchal Exarch|date=16 October 2018|website=orthochristian.com|access-date=2018-12-22}}</ref> The 11 October 2018 decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was viewed as a key step towards those two organizations merging into a single church independent from Moscow.<ref name="Kyiv20181017">{{cite news|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/constantinople-patriarchate-recognizes-kyiv-patriarch-filaret-as-legitimate.html|title=Constantinople recognizes Kyiv Patriarch Filaret as church bishop|date=11 October 2018|work=KyivPost|access-date=17 October 2018|quote=The Kyiv Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church are planning to merge with pro-independence bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate into an independent (autocephalous) Ukrainian church, which is expected to get a tomos — a Synod decree recognizing the independence of the Ukrainian church from the Constantinople church. “This decision gives us the opportunity to unite with bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate who are willing (to join),” Filaret said on Oct. 11.}}</ref> The Russian Orthodox Church is linked to 12,000 parishes in Ukraine while the Kyiv Patriarchate and UAOC had about 6,000; however, it was believed that many of the Russian-controlled Ukrainian parishes may defect to the Kyiv organizations.<ref name=":22" /><ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45877584|title=Orthodox Church split: Five reasons why it matters|last=Peter|first=Laurence|date=October 17, 2018|access-date=October 17, 2018|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref>
According to Filaret, he would undoubtedly be the winner in case of an election of the leader of a united Ukrainian Church "because Moscow will do everything to destroy the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. And therefore, in order to preserve the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and bring [''sic''] the cause to the end, [he] ha[s] to work to the end".<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/56981-filaret-ne-vidit-konkurentov-v-borybe-za-post-glavy-jepc|title=Filaret sees no rivals in the race for SLC primacy|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-10-30}}</ref> Filaret declared he was ready to take the role of head of a united Ukrainian Church.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://112.international/ukraine-top-news/patriarch-filaret-confirms-readiness-to-head-united-local-orthodox-church-in-ukraine-33515.html|title=Patriarch Filaret confirms readiness to head United Local Orthodox Church in Ukraine|website=112.international|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-27|quote=Patriarch Filaret, the Head of Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate is ready to lead the United Local Orthodox Church if the Bishops Council will entrust him to do this as Ukrainian Radio reported. Filaret could not answer the question who can compete with him at the election of the head of United Local Orthodox Church.}}</ref>
[[File:Участь_Президента_у_заходах_до_Дня_захисника_України.jpeg|thumb|Ukrainian President [[Petro Poroshenko]], [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]] and [[Makariy (Maletych)|Makariy]], 14 October 2018]]
On 20 October 2018, in an interview with [[Espreso TV]],<ref>{{Citation|last=Espreso.TV|title=Cтудія Захід {{!}} У справі об'єднавчого Собору виникли проблеми|date=2018-10-20|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iYkQsIcpxc|access-date=2018-10-30}}</ref> the head of the UAOC, [[Makariy (Maletych)|Makariy]], declared that there was no negotiations in the direction of a united Ukrainian church and that after his last meeting with Filaret, at which Filaret said that only his statute would be used,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/73091/|title=Head of UAOC Makariy: no agreement yet achieved regarding key issues of the unification council|date=17 October 2018|website=risu.org.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-11-06|quote=When we met, Patriarch Filaret turned to me and said we urgently needed to convene the Council.<br />I say:<br />- Your Holiness, we have no statute to convene the Council.<br />“I’ve got the statute,” replies Filaret.<br />- I also have, but two of them have to become one.<br />- No, we’ll take mine.<br />2015 is repeating itself,” Metropolitan Makariy summarizes.}}</ref> Makariy began to question the success of the union.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/56887-glava-uapc-menya-mozhno-obmanuty-odin-raz-vtoroj-no-bolyshe-ne-poluchitsya|title=UAOC leader: I can be deceived once, twice, but it'll no longer work|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-10-30}}</ref> On 27 October Makariy told ''Zik TV'' he would not nominate his candidacy during the future council and would instead "support the one to be offered by the Ecumenical Patriarch".<ref>{{Citation|last=Телеканал ZIK|title=Митрополит Макарій не претендує на головування у Помісній церкві|date=2018-10-26|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPlyHji_DWE|access-date=2018-10-31}}</ref><ref name=":27">{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/57072-makarij-maletich-otkazalsya-vozglavity-jedinuju-pomestnuju-cerkovy|title=Makariy Maletich refuses to be at the head of SLC|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-10-31}}</ref>
In an interview to the BBC on 2 November, Archbishop Job of the Ecumenical Patriarchate declared the united Ukrainian Church would be called "the Orthodox Church in Ukraine".<ref name=":52"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57242-na-fanare-soobshhili-nazvanije-budushhej-cerkovnoj-struktury-v-ukraine|title=Phanar rep says the name of the future church structure in Ukraine|date=3 November 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-04}}</ref> However, Filaret, head of the UOC-KP, declared on 2 November to [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|Radio Liberty]] that the united Ukrainian church would be called "Ukrainian Orthodox Church" with "Kyiv Patriarchate" as the church's second name.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-zmina-nazvy-upc-mp/29579753.html|script-title=uk:УПЦ КП проситиме парламент ухвалити закон про зміну назви УПЦ (МП) – Філарет|date=2 November 2018|website=Радіо Свобода|language=uk|access-date=2018-11-04 |last1=Свобода |first1=Радіо }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-patriarch-rejects-property-seizures-saying-they-ll-give-kremlin-pretext-for-incursions/29580539.html|title=Kyiv Patriarch Rejects Property Seizures, Saying They'll Give Kremlin Pretext For Incursions|last1=Lashchenko|first1=Oleksandr|last2=Synovitz|first2=Ron|date=3 November 2018|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|language=en|access-date=2018-11-25}}</ref>
[[File:Порошенко_і_п._Варфоломій.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|[[Bartholomew I of Constantinople]] with Ukrainian President [[Petro Poroshenko|Poroshenko]], signing the cooperation agreement, 3 November 2018]]
On 3 November 2018, Ukrainian President Poroshenko, in visit in Turkey, signed a cooperation agreement with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patriarchate.org/-/symphono-syntonismou-kai-synergasias-ypegrapsan-o-oikoumenikos-patriarches-kai-o-proedros-tes-oukranias|title=Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and President Petro Poroshenko Sign Agreement on Cooperation and Coordination - News Releases - The Ecumenical Patriarchate|date=4 November 2018|website=patriarchate.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-07}}</ref> According to Poroshenko, this agreement "creates all the conditions for the preparation process for a unification assembly and the process of providing a tomos to be brought into clear correspondence with the canons of the Orthodox Church."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/2572231-poroshenko-patriarch-bartholomew-sign-agreement-on-cooperation.html|title=Poroshenko, Patriarch Bartholomew sign agreement on cooperation|date=4 November 2018|work=Ukrinform|access-date=2018-11-03|language=en}}</ref> This agreement led to protests by [[wiktionary:hierarch|hierarchs]] of the UOC-MP and the ROC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=71163|script-title=ru:Интерфакс-Религия: В РПЦ упрекнули Порошенко в нарушении Конституции Украины|website=interfax-religion.ru|language=ru|access-date=2018-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57266-rpc-soglashenije-poroshenko-s-konstantinopolem-narushajet-konstituciju-ukrainy|title=ROC: Agreement of Poroshenko with Phanar violates Constitution of Ukraine|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57273-ijerarkh-upc-dogovor-s-fanarom-ne-imejet-ni-cerkovnogo-ni-svetskogo-znachenija|title=UOC hierarch: Agreement with Phanar has neither church nor secular value|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-05}}</ref> The text of the agreement was later released on 12 March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-society/2657698-opriludnili-tekst-ugodi-miz-ukrainou-ta-vselenskou-patriarhieu.html|script-title=uk:Оприлюднили текст угоди між Україною та Вселенською патріархією|date=12 March 2019|website=www.ukrinform.ua|language=uk|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://espreso.tv/news/2019/03/12/oprylyudneno_tekst_ugody_ukrayiny_zi_vselenskym_patriarkhatom|title=Оприлюднено текст угоди України зі Вселенським патріархатом|date=12 March 2019|website=espreso.tv|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/administration/ugoda-pro-spivrobitnictvo-ta-vzayemodiyu-mizh-ukrayinoyu-ta-482|script-title=uk:Угода про співробітництво та взаємодію між Україною та Вселенським Константинопольським Патріархатом|website=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України|language=uk|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref>
On 10 November, the website ''Vesti-Ukr'' allegedly revealed the heads of the UAOC and the UOC-KP, respectively [[Makariy (Maletych)|Makariy]] and [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]], had individually sent a letter to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Makariy declared the same thing as in his interview to Zik TV: that he would not run for the position of head of the united Ukrainian Orthodox church. The real surprise was the fact that Filaret also declared he accepted not to run for this position either.<ref name=":47">{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57422-filaret-i-makarij-otreklisy-ot-rukovodstva-jedinoj-pomestnoj-cerkovyju--smi|title=Media: Filaret and Makariy refuse to lead the Single Local Church|date=10 November 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://vesti-ukr.com/strana/312060-filaret-i-makarij-otreklis-ot-rukovodstva-avtokefalnoj-tserkovju|title=Филарет и Макарий отреклись от руководства автокефальной церковью|date=2018-11-10|work=vesti-ukr.com|access-date=2018-11-12}}</ref><ref name=":44">{{Cite news|url=https://znaj.ua/society/188298-cerkva-v-ukrajini-stane-pomisnoyu-ale-bilshe-ne-bude-ukrajinskoyu|script-title=uk:Церква в Україні стане Помісною, але більше не буде українською|date=2018-11-16|work=znaj.ua|access-date=2018-11-19|language=uk}}</ref> In the letter attributed to Filaret, Filaret allegedly asked the Ecumenical Patriarch to support the election of the member of the UOC-KP [[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|Epiphany (Dumenko)]], currently officing as "Metropolitan" and "patriarchal deputy" in the UOC-KP and protégé of Filaret, as head of the united Ukrainian Orthodox church. On 16 November, Filaret's supposed letter was published by ZNAJ.ua; in this supposed letter, Filaret allegedly declares that he withdrew his candidacy at the request of the Ecumenical Patriarch.<ref name=":47" /><ref name=":44" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57623-opublikovano-pisymo-filareta-gde-on-otkazyvajetsya-ot-predstojatelystva-v-jepc|title=Filaret's letter with a refusal to run for primacy in SLC published|date=19 November 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-19}}</ref>
[[File:Лавра.jpg|thumb|Kyiv Pechersk Lavra]]
[[File:Український дім - panoramio.jpg|left|thumb|239x239px|Ukrainian House]]
On 13 November, at the initiative of President Poroshenko, a meeting between the episcopate of UOC-MP and President Poroshenko was scheduled to take place in Kyiv.{{efn|There are some discrepancies concerning where the meeting had been planned to take place: either it was planned to take place in the [[Kyiv Pechersk Lavra]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://vesti-ukr.com/strana/312103-poroshenko-khotel-vesti-perehovory-s-upts-tajno-i-prosil-perenesti-ikh-v-ukrainskij-dom|title=Порошенко хотел вести переговоры с УПЦ тайно и просил перенести их в Украинский дом|date=2018-11-11|access-date=2018-11-25}}</ref><ref name="spzh-121118">{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/57444-opublikovany-podrobnosti-predstojashhej-vstrechi-poroshenko-s-duhovenstvom-upc|title=Details of the upcoming meeting of Poroshenko with UOC episcopate published|date=12 November 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/57517-mitr-luka-prokommentiroval-nesostojavshujusya-vstrechu-ijerarkhov-upc-s-poroshenko|title=Met. Luke comments on the failed meeting of UOC hierarchs with Poroshenko|date=14 November 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hramzp.ua/newsitem/razmyshleniya-o-ne-sostoyavsheysya-vstrech|script-title=ru:Размышления о несостоявшейся встрече|date=14 November 2018|website=Запорожская епархия УПЦ|language=ru|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref> or at the [[Ukrainian House]].<ref name=":432">{{Cite news|url=http://news.church.ua/2018/11/14/statement-of-council-of-bishops-of-ukrainian-orthodox-church-regarding-meeting-with-president-of-ukraine-p-o-poroshenko/?lang=en|title=Statement of Council of Bishops of Ukrainian Orthodox Church regarding meeting with President of Ukraine P. O. Poroshenko - Українська Православна Церква|date=2018-11-14|work=Українська Православна Церква|access-date=2018-11-16|language=en-US}}</ref> The meeting was planned since October 8.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxia.info/news/onufriy-poroshenko-play-hide-and-seek-in-kyiv/|title=Onufriy, Poroshenko play hide-and-seek in Kyiv|last=Loudaros|first=Andreas|date=14 November 2018|website=Orthodoxia.info|access-date=25 November 2018}}</ref> Either President Poroshenko decided on 13 November that the meeting would take place at the [[Ukrainian House]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57482-vstrecha-arkhijerejev-upc-i-prezidenta-v-kijevo-pecherskoj-lavre-ne-sostojalasy|title=President-UOC clergy meeting does not take place at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref> or the UOC-MP decided after their council on 13 November<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.church.ua/2018/11/13/vidbulosya-zasidannya-soboru-jepiskopiv-ukrajinskoji-pravoslavnoji-cerkvi/|script-title=uk:Відбулося засідання Собору єпископів Української Православної Церкви (+відео) - Українська Православна Церква|date=2018-11-13|work=Українська Православна Церква|access-date=2018-11-16|language=uk-UA}}</ref><ref name=":442">{{Cite news|url=http://news.church.ua/2018/11/14/resolution-of-the-council-of-bishops-of-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-november-13-2018/?lang=en|title=Resolution of the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of November 13, 2018 - Українська Православна Церква|date=2018-11-14|work=Українська Православна Церква|access-date=2018-11-15|language=en-US}}</ref> that the meeting with Poroshenko would take place at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.<ref name=":432" />}} The UOC-MP refused to meet Poroshenko at the [[Ukrainian House]], preferring to meet Poroshenko at the [[Kyiv Pechersk Lavra]] of the UOC-MP, and immediately notified Poroshenko of it; Poroshenko refused to hold the meeting at the Pechersk Lavra, preferring to meet members of the UOC-MP at the Ukrainian House. The same day, the UOC-MP issued an official statement in which the UOC-MP confirmed "its readiness to meet with the President of Ukraine, but on church territory." Nevertheless, in the evening, some representatives of the Council arrived at the Ukrainian House and met with Poroshenko. According to a BBC source from the president's administration, their number did not exceed 10 people, but they represented a much larger number of UOC-MP hierarchs supporting the creation of an autocephalous church.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-46206044|title="Бешеное давление". Порошенко все-таки встретился с иерархами УПЦ Московского патриархата|last=Хоменко|first=Святослав|date=2018-11-14|work=BBC News Русская служба|access-date=2018-11-28|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57506-prezidentu-udalosy-vstretitysya-s-tremya-ijerarkhami-upcchinovnik|title=Official: President manages to meet with three UOC hierarchs|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref> According to other sources, two metropolitans and the archbishop were present at the meeting with Poroshenko. In addition, [[Symeon (Shostatsky)|Metropolitan Simeon]] of the UOC-MP had the letter of attorney to participate in a meeting with the president from 15 hierarchs of the UOC-MP. It was assumed that the voting of the hierarchs of the UOC-MP at the planned Council of the "Orthodox Local Church of Ukraine" will be carried out in a similar way (by the letter of attorney).<ref name="Commers-1411418">{{cite news|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3799299|script-title=ru:В Украинской православной церкви произошел раскол. Причиной стал запрет на встречу с президентом Порошенко|date=14 November 2018|work=Мир - Коммерсантъ|access-date=20 November 2018|language=ru}}</ref> On 14 November, some information concerning the meeting were revealed by Ukrainian President advisor Rostyslav Pavlenko.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10336719-details-revealed-of-poroshenko-s-meeting-with-moscow-patriarchate-s-hierarchs.html|title=Details revealed of Poroshenko's meeting with Moscow Patriarchate's hierarchs|date=14 November 2018|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref>
On 14 November, ''GolosUA'' reported that on 15 November {{Interlanguage link|Metropolitan of France Emmanuel|lt=|fr|Emmanuel Adamakis|WD=}} of the Ecumenical Patriarchate would come to Ukraine in order to organize the future unification council, he would also be the one leading said council. Allegedly, still according to GolosUA, the unification council would take place on 22 November 2018 and at that time the statute of the united Orthodox church of Ukraine and the text of the Tomos on autocephaly would be ready.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://golos.ua/i/647770|title=Православная церковь в Украине будет создана уже в ноябре|date=14 November 2018|work=ГолосUA|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://24-my.info/who-will-lead-the-historic-cathedral-on-the-tomos-for-ukraine-in-kiev-has-already-arrived-the-metropolitan-from-constantinople-frames/|title=Who will lead the historic Cathedral on the Tomos for Ukraine: in Kiev has already arrived, the Metropolitan from Constantinople – frames {{!}} 24-my.info|date=16 November 2018|website=24-my.info|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57526-ijerarkh-fanara-letit-v-ukrainu-organizovyvaty-pomestnuju-cerkovy--smi|title=Phanar hierarch going to Ukraine to organize Local Church|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref> The UOC-KP officially denied that the unification council's date had been officially released.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/545197.html|title=Kyiv Patriarchate says date of church unification assembly not confirmed yet|date=15 November 2018|work=Interfax-Ukraine|access-date=2018-11-17|language=en}}</ref> On 15 November, [[Ukrainian News Agency|UNN]] reported that Metropolitan Emmanuel had arrived in Kyiv to prepare the unification process; UNN also reported the unification council would allegedly take place on 22 November 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://orthochristian.com/117291.html|title=Constantinople hierarch arrives in Kiev to prepare for unification council|website=orthochristian.com|access-date=2018-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.unn.com.ua/ru/exclusive/1762555-do-kiyeva-priyikhav-predstavnik-konstantinopolya-yakiy-maye-ocholiti-obyednavchiy-sobor|script-title=uk:В Киев приехал представитель Константинополя, который должен возглавить Объединительный собор|work=Информационное агентство Украинские Национальные Новости (УНН)|access-date=2018-11-17|language=uk-UA}}</ref>
On 19 November, the Ecumenical Patriarchate issued an official communiqué, stating that it "reiterates its sacred decision to grant the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine" and that the date for the Ukrainian unification council "will be presented within December 2018" by the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.<ref name="Patriarchate-1911182">{{Cite web|url=https://www.patriarchate.org/-/communique-19-11-2018-|title=Communiqué (19/11/2018). - Announcements - The Ecumenical Patriarchate|date=19 November 2018|website=patriarchate.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-19}}</ref> On the same day, Filaret issued an official communiqué "[i]n connection with the proliferation of a number of publications whose explicit purpose is to sow confusion in the Ukrainian Church and in society" In said communiqué he declared: "Self-nomination for candidacy in the Church is not allowed by the canons. Earlier it was reported that the bishops of the UOC-Kyiv Patriarchate would offer my candidacy for election as the Primate. I thank the bishops for expressing my trust in me, as well as thanking for the strong support from the fullness of the Kyiv Patriarchate and the whole society." He added that if he was chosen as candidate by the UOC-KP, he would inform the council of the UOC-KP of his decision and explain it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10342755-patriarch-filaret-comments-on-his-possible-election-as-head-of-ukraine-s-local-orthodox-church.html|title=Patriarch Filaret comments on his possible election as head of Ukraine's local Orthodox church|date=19 November 2018|website=unian.info|language=en|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref name=":55">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerkva.info/posts/zayava-patriarkha-kyyivskoho-i-vsiyeyi-rusy-ukrayiny-filareta|title=ЗАЯВА ПАТРІАРХА КИЇВСЬКОГО І ВСІЄЇ РУСИ-УКРАЇНИ ФІЛАРЕТА|date=19 November 2018|website=cerkva.info|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/PatriarchPhilaret/posts/2142241496027145|title=Патріарх Філарет|website=facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref>
The publication ''Levyy Bereg'' cited sources of ecclesiastical circles saying that the probable date of the unification council would be on December 9–10.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://interfax.com/newsinf.asp?y=2017&m=12&d=4&id=870756|title=Synod of Ecumenical Patriarchate to decide on date of church unification assembly in Ukraine - Interfax|date=19 November 2018|website=interfax.com|access-date=2018-11-22}}</ref>
President Poroshenko declared on 23 November that the decision on the approval of the tomos to Ukraine should be taken on November 27–29 during the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and that Rostyslav Pavlenko, presidential advisor, would go to Istanbul to attend at the synod.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/2586146-constantinople-should-approve-decision-on-tomos-for-ukraine-on-nov-2729-poroshenko.html|title=Constantinople should approve decision on tomos for Ukraine on Nov 27-29 - Poroshenko|date=23 November 2018|work=Ukrinform|access-date=2018-11-28|language=en}}</ref> Rostyslav Pavlenko went to Istanbul and 26 November, before the Synod, he was received by the Ecumenical Patriarch and had a conversation with him concerning "events in Ukraine and final steps toward the granting of the tomos of autocephaly (full independence) of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=14713|title=Patriarch Bartholomew receives Poroshenko's advisor before Constantinople Patriarchate Synod assembly|date=27 November 2018|website=interfax-religion.com|access-date=2018-11-27}}</ref> On 27 November Pavlenko told ''[[Interfax-Ukraine]]'' that the Ecumenical Patriarchate's communiqué concerning the granting of the tomos and the date of the unification council should be issued on 29 November. He said that at the unification council "the primate of this [united Ukrainian] Church will be elected, and he will go to Istanbul to receive [the Tomos]", he added that the arrival of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Kyiv was "not scheduled."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57834-sovetnik-prezidenta-oficialynoje-soobshhenije-o-tomose-pojavitsya-29-nojabrya|title=Advisor to the President: Communiqué on Tomos is due to come on November 29|date=27 November 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/president-poroshenkos-adviser-gave-details-on-the-granting-of-the-tomos-of-autocephaly-to-the-ukrainian-church/|title=President Poroshenko's adviser gave details on the granting of the tomos of autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church ⋆ Orthodoxie.com|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-11-29|work=Orthodoxie.com|access-date=2018-11-29|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://interfax.com.ua/news/political/548729.html|script-title=ru:Павленко: О предоставлении автокефалии Украинской церкви и о дате Объединительного собора будет объявлено 29 ноября|date=27 November 2018|work=Интерфакс-Украина|access-date=2018-11-27|language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=71360|title=Интерфакс-Религия: О дате объединительного собора будет объявлено 29 ноября - советник президента Украины|date=27 November 2018|website=interfax-religion.ru|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref>
=== 29 November 2018 communiqué of the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate ===
The regular November session of the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate started on 27 November and ended on 29 November, lasting three days.<ref name="Patriarchate-1911182" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10353645-tomos-for-ukraine-synod-of-ecumenical-patriarchate-convenes-in-istanbul.html|title=Tomos for Ukraine: Synod of Ecumenical Patriarchate convenes in Istanbul|date=28 November 2018|work=UNIAN|access-date=2018-11-27|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":56">{{Cite web|url=https://www.patriarchate.org/-/anakoinothen-29-11-2018-|title=Communiqué (29/11/2018).|date=29 November 2018|website=patriarchate.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref>
On 29 November, the synod ended.<ref name=":552">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-world/2590548-u-stambuli-zakincilosa-zasidanna-sinodu-vselenskogo-patriarhatu.html|script-title=uk:У Стамбулі закінчилося засідання Синоду Вселенського патріархату|date=29 November 2018|access-date=2018-11-29|language=uk}}</ref> Some like the ''Religious Information Service of Ukraine'' had expected the Ecumenical Patriarchate to give the date of the unification council of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/constantinople_patriarchy/73685/|title=Tomorrow, the Synod of Constantinople will make formal announcement on the Tomos and make public the date of Unification Council|date=28 November 2018|website=risu.org.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-12-01}}</ref> However, no date was given.
After the end of its synod, the Ecumenical Patriarchate later released, on its official website, an official communiqué. In said communiqué, the Ecumenical Patriarchate announced: 1) that the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate had decided to dissolve the AROCWE, "thereby entrusting its faithful to the Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne in Europe", 2) that, in anticipation of the granting of the Tomos of autocephaly to the Orthodox church of Ukraine, the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate had "drafted the Ukrainian Church's Constitutional Charter."<ref name=":56" /> On the same day, President Poroshenko said in an official speech to the Ukrainian nation that the date for the unification council for the Ukrainian church would be announced "soon" by the Ecumenical Patriarch.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10358049-date-for-orthodox-church-s-unification-council-in-ukraine-to-be-announced-by-ecumenical-patriarch.html|title=Date for Orthodox Church's unification council in Ukraine to be announced by Ecumenical Patriarch|date=29 November 2018|work=UNIAN|access-date=2018-11-29|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Адміністрація Президента України|title=Звернення Президента щодо рішення Синоду Вселенського Патріархату про схвалення Томосу|date=2018-11-29|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y9YTFgMpRY|access-date=2018-12-01}}</ref><ref name=":59">{{Cite news|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/zvernennya-prezidenta-shodo-rishennya-sinodu-vselenskogo-pat-51510|title=President's address as regards the decision of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the approval of the Tomos for the Ukrainian church|date=29 November 2018|work=Official website of the President of Ukraine|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en}}</ref>
On 3 December, parliament speaker [[Andriy Parubiy]] said the Ecumenical Patriarchate had approved the date of the unification council and that this council would be held in [[Kyiv]], but Parubiy did not say on which date this council would be held.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gordonua.com/news/politics/parubiy-sinod-uzhe-utverdil-rabochuyu-datu-provedeniya-vseukrainskogo-obedinitelnogo-sobora-552917.html|title=Парубий: Синод уже утвердил рабочую дату проведения Всеукраинского объединительного собора|date=3 December 2018|work=gordonua.com|access-date=2018-12-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57993-konstantinopoly-utverdil-datu-provedenija-obedinitelynogo-sobora--parubij|title=Parubiy: Constantinople approves the date of the Unification Council|date=3 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-03}}</ref>
On 4 December, the Greek website ''ROMFEA'' published the first page of the draft statute of the autocephalous church in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/first-page-of-the-draft-statutes-of-the-new-autocephalous-church-of-ukraine/|title=First page of the draft statutes of the "New Autocephalous Church" of Ukraine ⋆ Orthodoxie.com|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-12-05|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romfea.gr/diafora/25512-to-montelo-tis-ekklisias-tis-kritis-tha-exei-i-nea-ekklisia-stin-oukrania|script-title=el:Το μοντέλο της Εκκλησίας της Κρήτης θα έχει η νέα Εκκλησία στην Ουκρανία|date=4 December 2018|website=ROMFEA|language=el-gr|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref>
=== Disapprobation by the UOC-MP ===
On 13 November, the synod of the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)|UOC-MP]] (an autonomous church of the Moscow Patriarchate<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5082273.html|title=Глава X. Украинская Православная Церковь / Официальные документы / Патриархия.ru|website=Патриархия.ru|language=ru|access-date=2018-11-15}}</ref>) officially declared in a resolution that they considered the 11 October declaration of the Ecumenical Patriarchate "invalid" and canonically "null and void", and that the communion between the UOC-MP and the Ecumenical Patriarchate "is deemed impossible at present and thereby ceases".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57498-sobor-arkhijerejev-upc-reshenija-fanara-po-ukraine-javlyajutsya-nedejstvitelynymi|title=Bishops' Council of UOC: Phanar's decisions on Ukraine are invalid|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-15}}</ref> Two bishops of the UOC-MP did not sign the resolution, one of them being [[Symeon (Shostatsky)|Metropolitan Simeon]] of Vinnytsia and [[Bar, Vinnytsia Oblast|Bar]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/metropolitan-simeon-of-vinnitsa-asked-not-to-be-counted-too-quickly-among-the-schismatics/|title=Metropolitan Simeon of Vinnytsia asked not to be counted too quickly among the schismatics ⋆ Orthodoxie.com|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-11-21|work=Orthodoxie.com|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en-US}}</ref>
In an interview given on 14 November to the ''Vinnytsia Press Club'', Metropolitan Simeon of Vinnytsia and [[Bar, Vinnytsia Oblast|Bar]] of the UOC-MP said he did not sign the UOC-MP resolution as he disagreed with some statements in the resolution and considered this resolution as "bad".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57540-mitr-simeon-dlya-nas-kak-pravoslavnyh-reshenija-sobora-upc--eto-ploho|title=Met. Simeon: the decisions of UOC for us, Orthodox believers, are bad|date=15 November 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18}}</ref> He also said he would participate in the unification council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57546-mitropolit-simeon-ja-kak-i-drugije-mogu-pretendovaty-na-post-glavy-jepc|title=Met. Simeon: I, like others, can run for head of SLC|date=15 November 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Вінницький Прес-клуб|title=Інтерв'ю з митрополитом Вінницьким і Барським Симеоном|date=2018-11-14|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EejvhAFZcic|access-date=2018-11-18}}</ref> On 15 November, most of the clergy of Vinnytsia of the UOC-MP met in emergency, spontaneously and without the prior consent of its hierarchy. Most of the clergy of Vinnytsia publicly expressed its support to the 13 November resolution of the UOC-MP, and made an appeal to Metropolitan Simeon to ask him to hold a general meeting of the Vinnytsia eparchy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/57567-duhovenstvo-vinnicy-polnostyju-podderzhalo-reshenija-arkhijerejskogo-sobora-upc|title=Clergy of Vinnytsia fully support decisions of UOC Bishops' Council|date=16 November 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-22}}</ref> On 17 November, in a sermon, Metropolitan Simeon clarified that his refusal was his own decision, because, he stated, "not a single bishop represented the opinion of his eparchy or people at the Council, everyone spoke for themselves".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57633-mitr-simeon-na-arkh-sobore-ja-vyrazhal-ne-poziciju-jeparkhii-a-svoju-lichnuju|title=Met. Simeon: At Bishops' Council I expressed my personal position|date=19 November 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-20}}</ref> On 20 November, an official monthly general meeting of the Vinnytsia eparchy chaired by Metropolitan Simeon was held; the Eparchial Council "categorically condemned the unauthorized assemblies held in the Vinnytsia eparchy" and "stated that the Resolution of the Bishops’ Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, taken on November 13, 2018, is a document binding on all bishops, clergy and laity of the UOC and confirmed its readiness to comply with the Resolution by the entire Vinnytsia eparchy."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57683-v-vinnickoj-jeparkhii-osudili-samochinnyje-sobranija-duhovenstva|title=Vinnytsia Eparchial Council condemns unauthorized assembly of clergy|date=21 November 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=14702|title=Only one Moscow Patriarchate's Ukrainian Orthodox Church metropolitan planned to attend unification assembly, but decided not do so|date=21 November 2018|website=interfax-religion.com|access-date=2018-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://orthodox.vinnica.ua/novini/novini-eparhii/4060.html|title=Відбулося чергове засідання Єпархіальної ради Вінницької єпархії|date=20 November 2018|website=orthodox.vinnica.ua|access-date=2018-11-22}}</ref>
On 16 November 2018 Metropolitan {{Interlanguage link|Sophroniy (Dmitruk)|lt=|uk|Софроній (Дмитрук)|WD=}} of [[Cherkasy]] and [[Kaniv]] in his interview to [[BBC]] expressed his support for the creation of an autocephalous Church in Ukraine. He also said that he was going to participate in the unification council, and perhaps he would join the new autocephalous Church.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-46229497|title=Митрополит УПЦ МП: автокефальную церковь на Украине можно создать без раскола|date=16 November 2018|work=BBC News Русская служба|access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/bbc-interview-with-pro-ukrainian-autocephaly-metropolitan-sophroniy-of-cherkasy-and-kaniv/|title=BBC interview with pro-Ukrainian autocephaly Metropolitan Sophroniy of Cherkasy and Kaniv|last1=Cazabonne|first1=Emma|date=21 November 2018|work=Orthodoxie.com|access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref>
On 20 November 2018, chancellor of the UOC-MP, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, declared in an interview that "[s]anctions will be applied to the members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church [of the Moscow Patriarchate] who participate in the 'Unification Council{{' "}}.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/sanctions-will-be-applied-to-the-members-of-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-who-participate-in-the-unification-council/|title=Sanctions will be applied to the members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who participate in the 'Unification Council'|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-11-21|work=Orthodoxie.com|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://credo.press/220982/|title=Руководство УПЦ МП намерено наказать епископов, которые примут участие в объединительном Соборе Церкви в Украине — Credo.Press|date=20 November 2018|website=credo.press|language=ru-RU|access-date=2018-11-24}}</ref>
On 7 December, the UOC-MP synod declared the unification council conveyed by the Ecumenical Pariarchate as unlawful.<ref name=":752">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10368282-onufriy-bans-clergy-of-uoc-mp-from-participation-in-unification-council.html|title=Onufriy bans clergy of UOC-MP from participation in Unification Council|date=8 December 2018|website=unian.info|language=en|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref><ref name=":762">{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/73813/|title=UOC-MP Synod maintains Constantinople has no right to convene Council in Kyiv|date=7 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-12}}</ref><ref name=":772">{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/58119-sinod-upc-postanovil-schitaty-obedinitelynyj-sobor-nezakonnym-sobranijem|title=UOC Synod resolves to consider "Unification Council" as unlawful assembly|date=7 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref><ref name=":782">{{Cite web|url=http://orthochristian.com/117783.html|title=Resolutions of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, December 7, 2018. "The Patriarch of Constantinople Has No Canonical Right to Convene Any Assembly in Ukraine"|date=12 December 2018|website=orthochristian.com|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref><ref name=":792">{{Cite web|url=http://news.church.ua/2018/12/07/zhurnali-zasidannya-svyashhennogo-sinodu-ukrajinskoji-pravoslavnoji-cerkvi-vid-7-grudnya-2018-roku/|script-title=uk:Журнали засідання Священного Синоду Української Православної Церкви від 7 грудня 2018 року|date=2018-12-07|website=Українська Православна Церква|language=uk-UA|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref> On the same day, [[Onufriy (Berezovsky)|Metropolitan Onufriy]] decided not to answer the Ecumenical Patriarchate's invitation to the unification council and sent back to the Ecumenical Patriariarch the letter of convocation he had received.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/58111-blazhennejshij-onufrij-otpravil-pisymo-patr-varfolomeja-obratno-na-fanar|title=His Beatitude sends a letter of Patriarch Bartholomew back to Phanar|date=7 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=14756|title=Metropolitan Onufry returns to Istanbul invitation to unification assembly|date=7 December 2018|website=interfax-religion.com|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref>
== Unification council ==
=== Convocation of the council ===
On 5 December, President Poroshenko declared the unification council would be held on 15 December.<ref name=":66">{{Cite web|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/550856.html|title=Unification Orthodox Assembly to be held on Dec 15|date=5 December 2018|website=Interfax-Ukraine|language=en|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/obyednavchij-sobor-yakij-maye-progolositi-stvorennya-avtokef-51746|title=The Unity Council declaring the creation of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church will be held on December 15 - President|date=5 December 2018|website=Official website of the President of Ukraine|language=en|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref> ''BBC News'' reported that the council would last one day and that, according to sources in Constantinople, said council would effectively be held on 15 December.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/features-46440739|title=Об'єднавчий cобор пройде 15 грудня: чого чекати та коли вручать томос|last=Червоненко|first=Віталій|date=2018-12-05|work=BBC News Україна|access-date=2018-12-05|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/58047-poroshenko-obedinitelynyj-sobor-sostoitsya-15-dekabrya|title=Poroshenko: Unification Council is to be held on December 15|date=5 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> On the same day, Archbishop Clement, head of the UOC-MP, declared that the UOC-MP would not participate in this unification council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tass.ru/obschestvo/5873054|title=УПЦ не будет участвовать в Объединительном соборе по созданию новой церкви на Украине|website=ТАСС|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/58055-upc-ne-budet-uchastvovaty-v-obedinitelynom-sobore--arkhijepiskop-kliment|title=Archbishop Clement: UOC will not take part in the "Unification Council"|date=5 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> Also on 5 December, counselor of Poroshencko, Rostislav Pavlenko, declared that the "Ukrainian Autocephalous church will be completely independent and equal amongst other canonically recognized Orthodox churches". He added: "The Ukrainian Church will be introduced into the diptych, that is, the list of independent Churches. She will become one of the fifteen, already fifteenth, universally recognized, independent Churches. And in this there is a fundamental difference". He also said the charter of the united Ukrainian Orthodox church would be approved by the bishops present at the unification council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prm.ua/ukrayinska-tserkva-bude-absolyutno-nezalezhnoyu-i-rivnoyu-sered-inshih-rostislav-pavlenko-pro-publikatsiyu-statutu-pomisnoyi-tserkvi-u-zmi/|script-title=uk:Українська церква буде абсолютно незалежною і рівною серед інших – Ростислав Павленко про публікацію "статуту" помісної церкви у ЗМІ|date=2018-12-05|website=Прямий Онлайн|language=uk|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/73795/|title=Українська Церква буде повністю незалежною, - Павленко про статут нової УПЦ|date=6 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref> Still on 5 December, Archbishop Herman of Chernivtsi and Khotyn of the UAOC said no candidate for the position of primate of the future united Ukrainian Orthodox church will be submitted by the UAOC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/uapc/73793/|title=UAOC not to propose any candidate for the office of the Ukrainian Church Primate|date=6 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hromadske.ua/posts/uapc-ne-visuvatime-kandidaturu-na-post-predstoyatelya-pomisnoyi-cerkvi-arhiyepiskop|title=УАПЦ не висуватиме кандидатуру на пост предстоятеля Помісної церкви — архієпископ|date=5 December 2018|website=hromadske.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref>
On 6 December, the website ROMFEA published the letter of convocation to the unification council which was sent to the Orthodox hierarchs of Ukraine.<ref name=":70">{{Cite web|url=https://www.romfea.gr/oikoumeniko-patriarxeio/25554-estalisan-oi-proskliseis-tou-oikoumenikou-patriarxi-gia-tin-enotiki-sunodo|script-title=el:Εστάλησαν οι προσκλήσεις του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη για την ''Ενωτική Σύνοδο''|date=6 December 2018|website=ROMFEA|language=el-gr|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref> This letter contained a convocation to the unification council with the procedure of election of the primate of the future church. The letter said that any bishop can bring with him a priest and either a monk or a member of the laity to the unification council, and that the monks/priest/laypersons brought this way, as well as the bishops, would have the right to vote during the council for the elaboration of the charter of the new church and the election of its primate. The vote will be secret and by ballot. Moreover, the President Poroshenko would be an observer during the council.<ref name=":70" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/73802/|title=Constantinople finalizes procedure for election of Primate of the Autocephalous Church in Ukraine|date=6 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref><ref name=":71">{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/73802/|title=Константинополь визначив процедуру обрання Предстоятеля Автокефальної Православної Церкви в Україні|date=6 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref name=":43">{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/unification-council-convened-by-patriarch-bartholomew/|title="Unification Council" convened by Patriarch Bartholomew|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-12-12|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-13}}</ref> On the same day, Metropolitan Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi and Vishnevsky ([[:ru:Александр (Драбинко)|ru]]) published on his Facebook page a letter, in Greek, sent by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to [[Onufriy (Berezovsky)|Metropolitan Onuphriy]]; Alexander also gave an unofficial Ukrainian translation of said letter in his post. In the letter to Onuphriy, the Ecumenical Patriarchate declared it still allowed him to be bishop "in a form of [[oikonomia]] and condescension" but that if he refused to take part in the unification council he would cease to be the Metropolitan of Kyiv.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/58109-fanarblazhennejshemu-poka-vy-jeshhe-mitropolit-no-posle-sobora-im-ne-budete|title=Phanar – to His Beatitude: You will remain Metropolitan till the Council|date=7 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref><ref name=":68">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10367883-patriarch-bartholomew-explains-metropolitan-onufriy-reasons-for-ukraine-church-s-autocephaly-letter.html|title=Patriarch Bartholomew explains Metropolitan Onufriy reasons for Ukraine church's autocephaly (Letter)|date=7 December 2018|website=unian.info|language=en|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/oleksandr.drabinko/posts/2317509274940642|title=Oleksandr Drabinko|website=facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-11}}</ref> The letter to Onuphriy was published on 7 December, in Greek, on the Greek website ''ROMFEA''.<ref name=":693"/>
=== Position of the UOC-KP ===
On 6 December 2018, the press secretary of the UOC-KP, Archbishop {{Interlanguage link|Yevstratiy Zorya|lt=|uk|Євстратій (Зоря)|WD=}}, in response to the allegations of a religious expert who claimed that Filaret Denisenko would not run for the post of primate of the unified Ukrainian church, wrote on his Facebook page that on 19 November Filaret had already expressed his official position. In the same post, he linked to the previous official statement made on 19 November.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10365618-kyiv-patriarchate-responds-to-reports-on-filaret-s-stance-toward-top-position-in-new-church.html|title=Kyiv Patriarchate responds to reports on Filaret's stance toward top position in new church|date=6 December 2018|website=unian.info|language=en|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/orthodox/uoc_kp/73797/|title="Не ведіться на дезінформацію Москви", - речник УПЦ КП про участь Патріарха Філарета у виборах Глави нової Церкви|date=6 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/yevstr/posts/1923990044315937|title=Євстратій Зоря|website=facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-06|quote=Патріарх Філарет ще 19 листопада публічно заявив, як він буде діяти, в тому числі у питанні обрання Предстоятеля єдиної помісної УПЦ.<br /><br />Тож прошу послуговуватися першоджерелом, а не коментарями чуток, поширення яких лише перешкоджає досягненню рішень, прийнятних для всіх учасників процесу. В чому, власне, на моє переконання, і є мета поширення таких чуток. Чим особливо зараз перейнялися засоби московської масової дезинформації.<br /><br />P.S. З наближенням Собору число «релігієзнавців» та коментаторів теми росте в кубічній прогресії. «Каждый мнит себя стратегом, видя бой со стороны». Хоча є низка речей, які коментувати ще не час, бо праця триває, і шум навколо них зчиняється не для її успіху, а якраз навпаки.}}</ref> Still on 6 December, the UOC-KP held a synod.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerkva.info/posts/rozpochalosia-zasidannia-sviashchennoho-synodu-06-12-2018|title=Відбулося засідання Священного Синоду (ЖУРНАЛ)|date=6 December 2018|website=cerkva.info|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref> The synod ended the same day and issued a communiqué. Among the decisions taken by the synod, one was to support the 19 November statement of Filaret. The communiqué also mentioned the UOC-KP would elect its candidate for the post of primate of the united Ukrainian church on 13 December 2018, two days before the unification council; the communiqué also mentioned that considering all the circumstances, the UOC-KP "is ready, if necessary, to postpone for some time the request to recognize it in a dignity of patriarchate, retaining that name within its boundaries and for domestic use". The council of the UOC-KP also decided that only the hierarchs (bishops) would have the right to vote during the unification council and that the vote be open and public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerkva.info/church/zhurnal-zasidannia-sviashchennoho-synodu-6-hrudnia-2018-r|title=Українська Православна Церква Київський Патріархат (УПЦ КП)|date=6 December 2018|website=cerkva.info|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/orthodox/uoc_kp/73800/|title=Синод УПЦ КП сьогодні призначив дату Архиєрейського Собору УПЦ КП, який внесе зміни та доповнення до Статуту|date=6 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/73801/|title=На об'єднавчому Соборі право голосу матимуть лише українські єрархи, - Ухвала Синоду УПЦ КП|date=6 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/73799|title=UOC-KP ready to put aside patriarchal status for new Church, Synod decides|date=6 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref> The UOC-KP synod's last two demands&nbsp;– that the voters of the unification council be only bishops, and that the vote to elect the new church's primate be open (not secret)&nbsp;– were contrary to those previously specified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in its letter.<ref name=":43" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/zashhita-very/58113-patriarkh-filaret-ne-zhelajet-plyasaty-pod-dudku-patriarkha-varfolomeja|title="Patriarch" Filaret does not want to dance to Patriarch Bartholomew's tune|date=7 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref><ref name=":73">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10371126-kyiv-patriarchate-has-proposals-as-for-procedure-of-orthodox-churches-unification-council.html|title=Kyiv Patriarchate has proposals as for procedure of Orthodox churches' unification council|date=10 December 2018|website=unian.info|language=en|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref><ref name=":74">{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/confusion-before-the-unification-council-meeting-to-be-held-in-kyiv-on-december-15/|title=Confusion before the "Unification Council" meeting, to be held in Kyiv on December 15|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-12-13|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-13}}</ref>
On 7 December, Filaret Denisenko said, {{nowrap|"[Moscow]}} is spreading rumors that the patriarch will resign and will not run. This is not true. I will be patriarch to death, because the enthronement was in 1995. And no one will remove this grace" and that during the unification council the UOC-KP will "reject everything inappropriate if it is demanded from us".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10368138-over-50-bishops-to-take-part-in-orthodox-church-s-unification-council-patriarch-filaret.html|title=Over 50 bishops to take part in Orthodox Church's unification council – Patriarch Filaret|date=7 December 2018|website=unian.info|language=en|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/58121-filaret-ja-do-smerti-budu-patriarkhom|title=Filaret: I will be patriarch to the day I die|date=7 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref>
In early December, Metropolitan Sophroniy Dmitruk of the UOC-MP, who was viewed as being in favor of autocephaly, said in an interview that if Filaret was elected by the unification council next to no one of the UOC-MP would join the new church.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/29642347.html|title=15 тез інтерв'ю з митрополитом УПЦ (МП) Софронієм напередодні отримання Україною томосу|date=7 December 2018|website=Радіо Свобода|language=uk|access-date=2018-12-13 |last1=Время |first1=Настоящее }}</ref>
According to the Russian news agency [[Vesti (VGTRK)|Vesti]], on 8 December 2018 presidential advisor Rostislav Pavlenko met with Filaret and three of Filaret's bishops behind closed doors. It remains unknown what they were talking about behind closed doors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/58224-sovetnik-prezidenta-vstretilsya-s-glavoj-upc-kp-za-zakrytymi-dveryami|title=President's Advisor meets with UOC KP head behind closed doors|date=11 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vesti-ukr.com/strana/316615-sovetnik-prezidenta-vstretilsja-s-patriarkhom-kievskim-filaretom|title=Советник президента встретился с Патриархом Киевским Филаретом|date=2018-12-11|website=vesti-ukr.com|access-date=2018-12-11}}</ref>
On 10 December, Filaret said the UOC-KP might not participate at the unification council because of the disagreement with the Ecumenical Patriarchate concerning the procedure of vote of said council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?pg=6&id=875222|title=Kyiv Patriarchate head threatens to disrupt unification assembly - Interfax|date=10 December 2018|website=www.interfax.com|access-date=2019-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/58178-filaret-jesli-nam-budet-ne-polezno-my-na-sobore-prosto-ne-progolosujem|title=Filaret: We will not vote at the "Council" unless we find it profitable|date=10 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=ТСН|title=За 5 днів до Об'єднавчого Собору патріарх Філарет заявив про власну незгоду з Константинополем|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLnld7wrY1I|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref> The same day, the press secretary of the UOC-KP, Zorya, issued an official communiqué which states that "[t]he fact that the Kyiv Patriarchate has proposals as for the procedure of the Council or the election of the church's head does not mean that a common vision will not be agreed in the end".<ref name=":73" /><ref name=":74" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerkva.info/posts/u-kyivskomu-patriarkhati-hotuiutsia-do-soboru-ofitsiinyi-komentar|title=У Київському Патріархаті готуються до Собору - офіційний коментар|date=10 December 2018|website=cerkva.info|access-date=2018-12-13}}</ref>
On 11 December, [[Makariy (Maletych)|Makariy Maletych]], head of the UAOC, said the UAOC would come to the unification council at the invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch. He also responded to the UOC-KP's previous decisions by saying: "How can the council be the Council of Bishops, if one priest and one layman with a bishop are invited?"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/confessional/interchurch_relations/73846/|title=Head of UAOC responded to Patriarch Filaret's statements on the Unification Council procedure|date=11 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://informator.news/predstoiatel-uapts-otreahyroval-na-rezkye-zaiavlenyia-fylareta-po-ob-edynytel-nomu-soboru/|script-title=uk:Предстоятель УАПЦ отреагировал на резкие заявления Филарета по Объединительному собору|last=Solod|first=Dmytro|date=2018-12-11|website=ІНФОРМАТОР|language=uk|access-date=2018-12-12}}</ref>
On 12 December, in an interview given to the BBC, Zorya said that if the UOC-KP took part in the unification council, it {{nowrap|"[would]}} really get something bigger and better than now". He added that if the UOC-KP did not take part in the unification council their situation would worsen and their parishes would leave the UOC-KP. He explained: "If we want to achieve success, we must deal with the real situation, rather than the ideal one, which we'd like to have."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/zashhita-very/58298-obedinitelynyj-sobor-ledyanoj-kholod-politiki|title="Unification Council": ice cold politics|date=15 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-46531089|title=Украинская автокефалия: за что и против чего борется Киевский патриархат?|last=Хоменко|first=Святослав|date=2018-12-12|work=BBC News Русская служба|access-date=2018-12-15|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==== Acceptation of Constantinople's terms ====
On 13 December, as planned on 6 December, all bishops of the UOC-KP held a council chaired by Filaret. This council of the UOC-KP decided that the UOC-KP would participate in the unification council and allow representatives of the clergy, laity and monks to vote, according to the directives of the Ecumenical Patriarch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/uoc_kp/73891/|title=Bishops' Council of the UOC-KP nominates candidate for Primate of new Church|date=14 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerkva.info/posts/vidbuvsia-arkhiiereiskyi-sobor-upts-kyivskoho-patriarkhatu|title=Відбувся Архієрейський Собор УПЦ Київського Патріархату|date=13 December 2018|website=cerkva.info|access-date=2018-12-13}}</ref> Press secretary of the UOC-KP, Zorya, declared the same day in an interview to ''BBC Ukraine'' that, during said council, the UOC-KP had elected its only candidate for the unification council but that his identity was secret, and that the tomos would be given on 6 January 2019 by the Ecumenical Patriarch to the elected primate of the new united Ukrainian church. He also added that each of the UOC-KP bishops are expected to bring one priest and one monk or layman to the unification council, and that the vote during the unification council would be secret.<ref name=":72">{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/orthodox/uoc_kp/73891/|title=Архиєрейський Собор УПЦ КП визначився з кандидатурою на пост Глави нової Церкви|date=13 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/2600379-tomos-will-be-handed-to-ukraine-church-leader-on-jan-6-archbishop-zorya.html|title=Tomos will be handed to Ukraine church leader on Jan 6 – Archbishop Zorya|date=13 December 2018|website=ukrinform.net|language=en|access-date=2018-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/orthodox/constantinople_patriarchy/73889/|title=Варфоломій вручить Томос обраному главі помісної православної Церкви України 6 січня, - речник УПЦ КП|date=13 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/553222.html|script-title=uk:Вселенський патріарх вручить Томос обраному главі помісної православної церкви України 6 січня|date=13 December 2018|website=Інтерфакс-Україна|language=uk|access-date=2018-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/news-46553106|title=Томос голові помісної церкви вручать 6 січня - УПЦ КП|date=2018-12-13|work=BBC News Україна|access-date=2018-12-13|language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Beginning of the unification council ===
On 12 December, {{Interlanguage link|Emmanuel (Adamakis)|lt=Metropolitan Emmanuel of France|fr|Emmanuel Adamakis|WD=}} of the Ecumenical Patriarchate arrived in Kyiv to prepare the unification council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/constantinople_patriarchy/73877/|title=Ecumenical Patriarchate's representative arrives in Kyiv to prepare Unification Council|date=13 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://interfax.com.ua/news/general/552819.html|script-title=ru:Представитель Вселенского патриарха митрополит Галльский прибыл в Киев для подготовки Объединительного собора|date=12 December 2018|website=Интерфакс-Украина|language=ru|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref> A letter of invitation to the unification council had been sent to every bishop of the UOC-KP, of the UAOC, and of the UOC-MP.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://lb.ua/society/2018/12/18/415253_arhimandrit_kirilo_govorun_yakshcho.html|title=Архімандрит Кирило Говорун: "Якщо буде переглянуто Статут, буде переглянуто Томос"|date=18 December 2018|website=LB.ua|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://panorthodoxcemes.blogspot.com/2018/12/cyril-hovorun-if-charter-is-revised.html|title=Panorthodox Synod : CYRIL HOVORUN: "IF THE CHARTER IS REVISED, TOMOS WILL BE REVIEWED - THE COUNCIL IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE BEGINNING|last=Ioannis|first=Lotsios|date=18 December 2018|website=Panorthodox Synod|access-date=2018-12-21}}</ref> As of 13 December, out of the 97 bishops of the UOC-MP, 56 had returned the invitation for the unification council they had received.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=14768|title=Over half of Ukrainian Orthodox archbishops return unification assembly invites to Bartholomew|date=13 December 2018|website=interfax-religion.com|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/56-hierarques-de-leglise-orthodoxe-dukraine-ont-retourne-au-phanar-la-lettre-dinvitation-au-concile-de-reunification/|title=56 hiérarques de l'Église orthodoxe d'Ukraine ont retourné au Phanar la lettre d'invitation au " concile de réunification "|last=Panev|first=Jivko|date=2018-12-14|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=fr-FR|trans-title=56 hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have sent back the Fener's letter of invitation to the "reunification council"|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.church.ua/2018/12/13/arxijereji-upc-prodovzhuyut-povertati-u-stambul-zaproshennya-na-sobor/|title=Архієреї УПЦ продовжують повертати у Стамбул запрошення на "Собор"|date=13 December 2018|website=Українська Православна Церква - Синодальний інформаційно-просвітницький відділ УПЦ|access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref>
On 14 December, Makariy, head of the UAOC, declared in an interview to [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|Radio Liberty]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/29655007.html|title=8 основних тез інтерв'ю з главою УАПЦ митрополитом Макарієм щодо Об'єднавчого собору|date=14 December 2018|website=Радіо Свобода|language=uk|access-date=2018-12-14 |last1=Свобода |first1=Радіо }}</ref> that at the demand of the Ecumenical Patriarch he (Makariy) would not run for the post of head of the new united Ukrainian church. Makariy added that he believed the Ecumenical Patriarch had demanded the same thing to Filaret, head of the UOC-KP.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10376979-bartholomew-reportedly-asks-heads-of-uoc-kp-uaoc-not-to-run-for-top-post-in-new-church.html|title=Bartholomew reportedly asks heads of UOC-KP, UAOC not to run for top post in new church|date=14 December 2018|website=unian.info|language=en|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/constantinople_patriarchy/73899/|title=Bartholomew asked Primates of UAOC and UOC-KP not to run for Primate of new Church|date=14 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref> On the same day, {{Interlanguage link|Alexander (Drabinko)|lt=Metropolitan Alexander (Drabinko)|ru|Александр (Драбинко)|WD=}} and [[Symeon (Shostatsky)|Metropolitan Simeon]], both of the UOC-MP, received a letter from the Ecumenical Patriarchate which absolved them of any sanction imposed by any church.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://strana.ua/news/177068-drabinko-i-simeon-vyshli-iz-ukrainskoj-pravoslavnoj-tserkvi-do-sinoda-v-kieve.html|title=Ни один представитель УПЦ МП не принимал участия в соборе ПЦУ. Документ|date=18 December 2018|website=strana.ua|access-date=2018-12-24}}</ref>
[[File:Cathedral_Of_St_Sophia_(234807753).jpeg|left|thumb|Saint Sophia's Cathedral, in Kyiv, where the unification council took place]]
On 15 December, the unification council took place at [[Saint Sophia's Cathedral, Kyiv|St. Sophia's Cathedral]] in Kyiv, with thousands people waiting outside the cathedral, in the [[:Category:Sophia Square|St Sofia Square]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/state/national_religious_question/73917|title=Tens of thousands of people gathered on St Sofia Square in Kyiv, expect good news from Unification Council|date=15 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/2601502-st-sophias-cathedral-square-guarded-by-almost-4000-police-officers.html|title=St. Sophia's Cathedral square guarded by almost 4,000 police officers|date=15 December 2018|website=ukrinform.net|language=en|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref> The same day, the Ukrainian website ''Pravda'' published online the alleged project of charter of the united Ukrainian church,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/draft-statutes-of-the-orthodox-church-in-ukraine-available-online/|title=Draft statutes of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine available online|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-12-15|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2018/12/15/7201322/|title=Автокефальну церкву очолить Митрополит Київський – проект статуту|date=15 December 2018|website=pravda.com.ua|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref> however this version was the one the Ecumenical Patriarchate had drafted during its 29 November 2018 synod and did not contain the additions which had been made thereafter at the request of the UAOC and the UOC-KP.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/orthodox_world/73914/|title=Media gets copy of draft Charter of new church|date=15 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-21}}</ref> During the council, the Ukrainian President Poroshenko made a speech to the participants of the unification council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/state/national_religious_question/73921|title=Petro Poroshenko to participants of Unification Council: Ukraine's future depends on you|date=15 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref> At the council, Filaret appeared with the headgear of a Metropolitan and indicated he recognized the Ecumenical Patriarch's authority over the new church which would be created.<ref name=":83">{{Cite web|url=https://www.noz.de/deutschland-welt/politik/artikel/1611336/orthodoxe-nationalkirche-in-der-ukraine-gegruendet#gallery&0&0&1611336|title=Orthodoxe Nationalkirche in der Ukraine gegründet|date=15 December 2018|website=[[Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung]]|language=de|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref> Filaret later added that he had not put his [[Koukoulion|patriarchal headgear]] at the request of Metropolitan Emmanuel of France who chaired the council. Metropolitan Emmanuel justified his demand by "explaining in such a way" that Filaret was "not a patriarch for them [the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]]]." Filaret added: "And since the Council was under [Metropolitan Emmanuel's] leadership, they explained that there could not be a patriarch at the Council". Filaret added all the bishops at the council acted as bishops of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/ru/news/58597-filaret-zajavil-chto-snyal-kukoly-na-sobore-po-trebovaniju-ijerarkha-fanara|title=Филарет заявил, что снял куколь на "Соборе" по требованию иерарха Фанара|date=22 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/29669985.html|script-title=uk:Філарет про Собор, конкурентів Епіфанія і шантаж КДБ|date=22 December 2018|website=Радіо Свобода|language=uk|access-date=2018-12-22}}</ref>
According to {{Interlanguage link|Orthodoxie.com|lt=''Orthodoxie.com''|fr|Orthodoxie.com|WD=}}, President Poroshenko had promised Patriarch Bartholomew the participation of 10-15 bishops of the UOC-MP at the council, but only two members of the UOC-MP took part in it: [[Symeon (Shostatsky)|Metropolitan Simeon]] of Vinnitsa and Bar and Metropolitan-vicar {{Interlanguage link|Alexander (Drabinko)|lt=|ru|Александр (Драбинко)|WD=}}.<ref name=":802">{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/the-council-started-late/|title=The council started late|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-12-15|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> The ROC had called its bishops to boycott the unification council.<ref name=":83" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.domradio.de/themen/%C3%B6kumene/2018-12-15/metropolit-epiphanius-zum-oberhaupt-gewaehlt-ukraine-gruendet-neue-orthodoxe-kirche|title=Ukraine gründet neue orthodoxe Kirche|last=Hinz|first=Oliver|date=15 December 2018|website=domradio.de|language=de|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref> According to Archimandrite {{ill|Cyrill Govorun|uk|Кирило (Говорун)}} of the UOC-MP, in spring 2018 ten hierarchs of the UOC-MP supported the idea of an autocephalous Ukrainian church.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/confessional/orthodox_relations/73987/|title=Архимандрит Кирило назвав три причини, чому на Соборі було мало священнослужителів УПЦ МП|date=20 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref> According to the exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine, [[Daniel (Zelinsky)|Daniel of Pamphilon]], during his four months as exarchs in Ukraine he met 18 hierarchs of the UOC-MP and all of them were ready to join a local Ukrainian church.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/features-46827400|title=Екзарх Константинополя Даниїл: Православна церква України може стати патріархатом|last=Червоненко|first=Святослав Хоменко, Віталій|date=2019-01-11|access-date=2019-01-20|language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Dissolution of the UOC-KP and the UAOC ===
[[File:Unification_council_of_Orthodox_Church_in_Ukraine_114.jpg|thumb|Inside the cathedral during the unification council. In order from left to right: [[Petro Poroshenko]],
On 15 December, before the unification council started, the UOC-KP and the UAOC held separate meetings during which they both dissolved themselves, which delayed the beginning of the unification council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/kievskiy-patriarhat-uapts-samoraspustilis-1544894232.html|script-title=ru:Киевский патриархат и УАПЦ самораспустились перед Собором|date=15 December 2018|website=РБК-Украина|language=ru|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10380387-necessary-step-uoc-kp-uaoc-voted-on-dissolution-ahead-of-unification-council.html|title="Necessary step": UOC-KP, UAOC voted on dissolution ahead of Unification Council|date=17 December 2018|website=unian.info|language=en|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref>
[[Epiphanius I (Metropolitan of Kyiv)|Epiphany]], [[Emmanuel Adamakis|Emmanuel]], [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]] (Filaret is wearing a [[skufia]]).]]
''Orthodoxie.com'' gives the following description of the events of the unification council: the council started three hours late because 10-12 bishops of the UOC-MP had been brought to Kyiv by the [[Security Service of Ukraine|SBU]] and forced to sign letters containing their vote for [[Symeon (Shostatsky)|Metropolitan Simeon]]; however, when Met. Simeon presented the letters to the representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the council, the representatives demanded that those bishops be presents in person at the council to vote, which caused a three-hour delay. The council then started. The Ecumenical Patriarchate demanded that Metropolitan Simeon be elected by the council, and asked President Poroshenko to make pressure on the voters in order for Met. Simeon to be elected, which Poroshenko did. However, members of the UOC-KP had their own candidate who was faithful to Filaret, which caused another delay.<ref name=":802" />
Archimandrite and doctor in theology {{ill|Cyrill Hovorun|uk|Кирило (Говорун)}} of the UOC-MP said two bishops of the UOC-MP were present, [[Symeon (Shostatsky)|Simeon]] and [[Oleksandr Drabynko|Oleksandr]], and that those bishops "brought with them written requests which delegated to them the right to vote on behalf of other bishops who were not present. There was a discussion at the Council whether it was possible to accept these votes in absentia, and it was decided that it was impossible. Those votes were not counted."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://euromaidanpress.com/2018/12/21/old-wine-in-new-bottles-how-bad-habits-derailed-ukrainian-church-unification-interview-with-cyril-hovorun/|title=Old wine in new bottles: how bad habits derailed Ukrainian Church unification - interview with Cyril Hovorun|date=2018-12-21|website=Euromaidan Press|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-02}}</ref>
On 18 December, metropolitan {{Interlanguage link|Mykhayil (Zinkevych)|uk|Михаїл (Зінкевич)|WD=}}, of the now dissolved UOC-KP, declared in a press conference that he had been forced by [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]] to withdraw his candidacy from the unification council. According to Mykhail, Filaret said that if the UOC-KP was to nominate two candidate, both of those candidates might lose the election at the unification council. Filaret therefore threatened that if Mykhail did not withdrew his candidacy before going to the unification council, Filaret would not sign the paper of the dissolution of the UOC-KP and Filaret would not go to the unification council. In the end, Mykhail withdrew his candidacy as he perceived this decision was the best for the OCU.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/ru/news/58465-zinkevich-ot-zhelanija-staty-glavoj-pcu-ne-otkazyvajusy|title=Зинкевич: От желания стать главой ПЦУ не отказываюсь|date=18 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pershyj.com/p-mene-shantazhuvali-mitropolit-mihayil-poyasniv-chomu-ne-stav-predstoyatelem-novoyi-tserkvi-32367|title="Мене шантажували", - митрополит Михаїл пояснив, чому не став предстоятелем нової церкви|date=18 December 2018|website=Перший канал соціальних новин|trans-title="I was blackmailed," - Metropolitan Michael explained why he did not become the primate of the new church.|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref> On 16 December, a similar account had been given by a member of the diocese of Mykhail, deputy Mykola Buliga, who participated in the unification council as a laity. According to Buliga, it is this disagreement between [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]] and Mykhail which made the council start more than three hours late. Moreover, Buliga claims that [[Petro Poroshenko|President Poroshenko]] was pressured by Filaret to support Epiphany during the council, and Poroshenko pressured the voters in order for them to vote for Epiphany. Buliga indicated that Mykhail was the favorite and that even after the withdrawal of his candidacy, Mykhail still got 30 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pershyj.com/p-vi-mitropolite-mihayil-pishit-vidmovu-volinyanin-rozpoviv-pro-intrigi-obyednavchogo-soboru-32298|title=Учасник Об'єднавчого собору розповів, як "вмовляли" Михаїла зняти свою кандидатуру|date=17 December 2018|website=Перший канал соціальних новин|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/a-ukrainian-deputy-denounces-filarets-maneuvers-at-the-unification-council/|title=A Ukrainian deputy denounces "Filaret's maneuvers at the Unification Council"|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-12-20|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://konkurent.in.ua/publication/34058/filaret-ih-vsih-popolzuvav-volinskiy-deputat-pro-obrannya-epifaniya/|script-title=uk:"Філарет їх всіх "попользував", – волинський депутат про обрання Епіфанія|date=16 December 2018|website=konkurent.in.ua|language=uk|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref>
Mikhayl's withdrawal of candidacy was allegedly done after an intervention by Filaret.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web|url=http://euromaidanpress.com/2018/12/16/history-in-the-making-future-ukrainian-orthodox-church-elects-its-primate/|title=History in the making: future Ukrainian Orthodox Church elects its Primate {{!}}|last=Alya|first=Shandra|date=2018-12-16|website=Euromaidan Press|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-17}}</ref> According to ''BBC Ukraine'', Metropolitan Mykhail of Lutsk and Volyn withdrew his candidacy during the council before the final vote, which allowed Epiphany to win against Metropolitan Simeon by 20 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/live/news-46566618|script-title=uk:Як це було: митрополит Епіфаній очолив нову церкву|website=BBC News Україна|language=uk|access-date=2018-12-15|quote=16:49 Митрополит Луцький і Волинський Михаїл перед фінальним голосування зняв свою кандидатуру, повідомили BBC News Україна учасники собору. Це допомогло митрополиту Переяславському та Білоцерківському Епіфанію перемогти митрополита Вінницького і Барського Симеона з відривом у 20 голосів.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/58351-stali-izvestny-podrobnosti-golosovanija-na-obedinitelynom-sobore|title=Details of the vote at the "Unification Council" become known|date=15 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref>
Filaret later denied Mykhail was blackmailed to withdraw his candidacy, saying Mykhail was only "persuaded" to withdraw his candidacy {{nowrap|"[i]n}} order to maintain unity".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/ru/news/58593-filaret-soobshhil-chto-ne-shantazhiroval-zinkevicha-na-obedinitelynom-sobore|title=Филарет сообщил, что не шантажировал Зинкевича на "объединительном Соборе"|date=22 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-filaret-zayava-myhaila/29669969.html|script-title=uk:Філарет відповів на заяви митрополита Михаїла про шантаж|date=21 December 2018|website=Радіо Свобода|language=uk|access-date=2018-12-22 |last1=Свобода |first1=Радіо }}</ref> He also explained in an interview that "the enemy forces simply took advantage of his [Mykhail] desire to be the head of the Ukrainian Church. If it were not for the forces that supported him, he would not have nominated his candidacy."<ref name=":4" />
=== Vote ===
[[File:Unification_council_of_Orthodox_Church_in_Ukraine_26.jpg|thumb|Inside the cathedral during the unification council]]
There were 192<ref name=":822">{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/state/national_religious_question/73918|title=Metropolitan Epifaniy (Dumenko) becomes Primate of One Local Orthodox Church of Ukraine|date=15 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/orthodox_world/73913/|title=Procedure of election of new Primate of Ukrainian Church announced|date=15 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-21}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2018/12/14/7201303/|title=Об'єднавчий собор: стало відомо, як обиратимуть Предстоятеля|date=14 December 2018|website=www.pravda.com.ua|access-date=2018-12-21}}</ref> or 200<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/orthodox/ocu/73933/|title=Стало відомо, скільки голосів на виборах отримав Предстоятель Епіфаній|date=16 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> voters in total. 42 of them were bishops of the UOC-KP, 12 were bishops of the UAOC<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10378089-unification-council-taking-place-at-kyiv-s-st-sophia-cathedral-live-video.html|title=Unification council taking place at Kyiv's St. Sophia Cathedral (Live video)|date=15 December 2018|website=unian.info|language=en|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> and at least 2 were bishops of the UOC-MP;<ref name=":802" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://handofmoscow.com/2018/12/15/the-head-of-the-ukrainian-dissenters-wanted-to-make-the-rebellious-metropolitan-of-the-uoc/|title=The head of the Ukrainian dissenters wanted to make the rebellious Metropolitan of the UOC {{!}} Russian news EN|last=Andry Kut|date=15 December 2018|website=handofmoscow.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref> how many bishops of the UOC-MP participated remains unclear,<ref name=":23"/> 10 bishops of the UOC-MP were planned to participate.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" /> Every bishop was to bring two people to vote; the UOC-KP's total of electors was planned to be 126, the UAOC's total of electors was planned to be 36 delegates, and the UOC-MP's total of electors was planned to be 30.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />
In the second round, laity and priests did not vote, only bishops.<ref name=":23"/><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" /><ref name=":0" />
According to ''[[Interfax]]'', some of the UOC-KP bishops had their own candidate for the council: {{Interlanguage link|Mykhail (Zinkevich)|lt=Metropolitan Mykhail (Zinkevich) of Lutsk and Volyn|uk|Михаїл (Зінкевич)|WD=}} who would be candidate for the unification council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=14770|title="Kyiv Patriarchate" to nominate 2 candidates for head of Ukraine's unified church - source|date=14 December 2018|website=interfax-religion.com|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref> According to [[Ukrainian Independent Information Agency|Unian]], said Mykhail was supported by a minority of bishops of the UOC-KP.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10378047-leader-of-new-ukrainian-orthodox-church-to-be-elected-in-two-rounds-media.html|title=Leader of new Ukrainian Orthodox Church to be elected in two rounds – media|date=15 December 2018|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref>
According to religious expert {{Interlanguage link|Alexander Sagan|lt=|uk|Саган Олександр Назарович|WD=}}, the vote went as follow. Mykhail, [[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|Epiphany]] and [[Symeon (Shostatsky)|Simeon]] were the three candidates at the post of head of the OCU. In the first round, the score of the three candidates was: Mykhail: 38; Simeon: 56; Epiphany: 81. Allegedly, at the end, Mikhail dismissed his candidacy. According to Sagan, the votes of bishops were as follows: Simeon: 28; Epiphany: 36. Still according to Sagan, the vote was secret during both rounds.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/oleksandr.sagan.9/posts/2380866011923587|title=Олександр Саган|website=facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> According to ''Orthodoxia.info'', Mykhail supporters' votes went to Epiphany after Mykhail withdrew his candidacy.<ref name=":13"/>
According to archbishop {{Interlanguage link|Eustratius (Zorya)|lt=|uk|Євстратій (Зоря)|WD=}} who was part of the UOC-KP, the charter of the united church was adopted with an overwhelming majority (only one voter was against).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/orthodox/ocu/75268/|title=Архиєпископ Євстратій (Зоря) теж невдоволений Статутом ПЦУ|date=31 March 2019|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2019-03-31}}</ref>
== Election of Metropolitan Epiphanius ==
{{See also|Orthodox Church of Ukraine|Epiphanius I of Ukraine|2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism}}
[[File:Unification council of Orthodox Church in Ukraine 132.jpg|thumb|Metropolitan Epiphanius and Ukrainian President Poroshenko, right after the unification council]]
[[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|Metropolitan Epiphanius]] of the UOC-KP, who had been chosen on 13 December by the UOC-KP as its only candidate, and was considered Filaret's right arm<ref name=":32">{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/bishop-epiphaniy-dumenko-elected-primate-of-the-orthodox-church-in-ukraine/|title=Bishop Epiphaniy (Dumenko) elected Primate of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-12-15|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref> and protégé,<ref name=":23" /> was elected Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine by the unification council on 15 December 2018 after the second round of voting.<ref name=":822" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=14776|title=Metropolitan Epiphany of "Kyiv Patriarchate" elected as leader of "local Orthodox church" in Ukraine|date=15 December 2018|website=interfax-religion.com|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref> In his speech to the faithfuls after the election, Metropolitan Epiphany thanked President Poroshenko as well as [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]], and said Filaret was "the spiritual father of all Ukrainians" and "will continue to be an active life-long [mentor], helping us to jointly build our united local Ukrainian Orthodox church".<ref name=":32" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=71560|title=Филарет Денисенко в новой церкви получит статус почетного духовного наставника|date=15 December 2018|website=interfax-religion.ru|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> Epiphany also said no weighty decision would be taken by his church as long as he had not received the church's ''tomos''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.net/society/10378893-predstoyatel-edinoy-upc-epifaniy-rasskazal-o-statuse-filareta-i-glavnom-sobore-novoy-cerkvi.html|script-title=ru:Предстоятель единой УПЦ Епифаний рассказал о статусе Филарета и главном соборе новой церкви|date=16 December 2018|website=unian.net|language=ru|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> The unification council also adopted a charter for the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine|newly formed church]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/poyavilsya-ustav-pravoslavnoy-tserkvi-ukrainy-1544905888.html|script-title=ru:Православна церква України буде автокефальною - статут (повний текст документу)|date=15 December 2018|website=РБК-Украина|language=ru|trans-title=The Orthodox Church of Ukraine will be autocephalous - the charter (full text of the document)|access-date=2018-12-30}}</ref><ref name=":75">{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/ru/news/58371-smi-obnarodovali-projekt-ustava-pcu-prinyatyj-na-obedinitelynom-sobore|title=СМИ обнародовали проект устава ПЦУ, принятый на "объединительном Соборе"|date=16 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-30}}</ref>
The Ecumenical Patriarch congratulated and blessed the newly elected Metropolitan on the day of his election and said the newly elected primate was invited to come to Istanbul to concelebrate a liturgy with the Ecumenical Patriarch and receive the Orthodox Church of Ukraine's ''tomos'' on 6 January 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/news-46581712|title=Варфоломій благословив Епіфанія та запросив за томосом у Стамбул|date=2018-12-15|work=BBC News Україна|access-date=2018-12-15|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ecumenicalpatriarchate/posts/10156904480964158|title=Ecumenical Patriarchate|website=facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patriarchate.org/announcements/-/asset_publisher/MF6geT6kmaDE/content/anakoinothen-15-12-2018-?_101_INSTANCE_MF6geT6kmaDE_languageId=en_US|title=Communiqué (15/12/2018). - Announcements - The Ecumenical Patriarchate|website=www.patriarchate.org|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-09}}</ref> On the next day after the election of Epiphany, a Sunday, the Ecumenical Patriarch commemorated him during a liturgy, along with the other primates of the other Orthodox churches.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxia.info/news/new-ukrainian-primate-calls-for-unity/|title=New Ukrainian primate calls for unity|last=Loudaros|first=Andreas|date=16 December 2018|website=Orthodoxia.info|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref>
After the council, [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]] became the "honorary patriarch" of the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]] and will serve in the [[St Volodymyr's Cathedral]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/filaret-stal-pochetnym-patriarhom-pravoslavnoy-1544893052.html|script-title=ru:Филарет стал почетным патриархом Православной церкви Украины|date=15 December 2018|website=РБК-Украина|language=ru|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> On 16 December 2018, during a liturgy in which he came wearing the [[Koukoulion|headgear of a patriarch]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romfea.gr/diafora/25813-i-eklogi-o-epitimos-patriarxis-kai-ta-nomosxedia|script-title=el:Η εκλογή, ο ''επίτιμος'' Πατριάρχης και τα νομοσχέδια|date=18 December 2018|website=ROMFEA|language=el-gr|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerkva.info/posts/bohosluzhinnia-v-nediliu-29-tu-pislia-piatydesiatnytsi|title=Богослужіння в неділю 29-ту після П'ятидесятниці (ВІДЕО)|date=16 December 2018|website=www.cerkva.info|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref> during his sermon, Filaret declared he was still patriarch: "The Patriarch remains for life and, together with the Primate, governs the Ukrainian Orthodox Church".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/orthodox/ocu/73979/|title=Патріарх разом з Предстоятелем керуватиме новою Церквою, - владика Філарет про свій статус|date=19 December 2018|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref> After the liturgy, he was acclaimed by the hierarchs of the church as "great vladyka and father Filaret, the holiest patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine-Rus and sacred archimandrite of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/58443-filaret-ja-budu-upravlyaty-pcu-vmeste-s-jepifanijem|title=Filaret: I will be at heads of OCU together with Epiphany|date=18 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerkva.info/posts/bohosluzhinnia-v-nediliu-29-tu-pislia-piatydesiatnytsi|title=Богослужіння в неділю 29-ту після П'ятидесятниці (ВІДЕО)|date=16 December 2018|website=cerkva.info|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref> On 22 December 2018, Filaret declared that if he had run for the role of primate of the OCU, Ukraine would never have got a ''tomos''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10388157-patriarch-filaret-says-ukraine-would-have-never-got-tomos-if-he-had-run-for-head-of-new-church.html|title=Patriarch Filaret says Ukraine would have never got tomos if he had run for head of new church|date=23 December 2018|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ua.krymr.com/a/filaret-pro-sobor-konkurentiv-epifaniia-i-shantazh-kdb/29671111.html|script-title=uk:Філарет про Собор, конкурентів Епіфанія і шантаж КДБ|date=22 December 2018|website=Крым.Реалии|language=uk|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Радіо Свобода|title=Якби я не поступився, томосу не було б – Філарет|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xLkhcCl-tA|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref> On 20 January 2019, Filaret declared concerning [[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|Epiphany]]: "I supported him and fought for his candidacy, because among all the young bishops I see him as the most worthy to be the primate of the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine|Ukrainian Orthodox Church]]."<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://ru.tsn.ua/interview/ukrainskuyu-cerkov-raskololi-moskva-i-kgb-1283118.html|script-title=ru:Украинскую церковь раскололи Москва и КГБ|date=2019-01-20|website=ТСН.ua|language=ru|access-date=2019-01-21}}</ref>
Concerning his election, Metropolitan Epiphanius later declared: "I always relied on the will of God. In 2013, I introduced my candidacy to the post of patriarchal governor, and the Bishops' synod appointed me. In the event of the death of the patriarch, the governor became a [[Locum|locum tenens]]. On his shoulder was the responsibility of the church and the election of a new primate. Since that time, among the bishops and the clergy, the idea that I can be a candidate for the head of the Local Church was confirmed. I did not want this. There are many older hierarchs who have more experience. But so, the Lord blessed me to choose my candidacy. For me it's a heavy cross. But we live in historical time."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gazeta.ua/articles/opinions-journal/_cerkva-ostannij-forpost-derzhaviagresora-mi-poklikani-obrizati-yiyi-schupalcya-/878503|script-title=uk:"Церква – останній форпост держави-агресора. Ми покликані обрізати її щупальця "|last=Gazeta.ua|date=2019-01-16|website=Gazeta.ua|language=uk|access-date=2019-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerkva.info/publications/tserkva-ostannii-forpost-derzhavy-ahresora-my-poklykani-obrizaty-ii-shchupaltsia|title="Церква – останній форпост держави-агресора. Ми покликані обрізати її щупальця "|date=1 February 2019|website=www.cerkva.info|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202133541/https://www.cerkva.info/publications/tserkva-ostannii-forpost-derzhavy-ahresora-my-poklykani-obrizaty-ii-shchupaltsia|archive-date=2 February 2019|access-date=2019-02-02}}</ref>
== Conflict between Filaret and Epiphanius ==
{{Main|Conflict between Filaret and Epiphanius}}
[[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]] later explained in an appeal the conditions of the council. According to Filaret, the agreement reached at the unification council was as follow: "the [[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|primate]] is responsible for the external representation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), and the patriarch is responsible for the internal church life in Ukraine, but in cooperation with the primate. The primate shall do nothing in the church without the consent of the patriarch. The patriarch chairs the meetings of the Holy Synod and the UOC meetings for the sake of preserving unity, its growth, and affirmation." Filaret considers this agreement has not been fulfilled.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10549452-patriarch-filaret-talks-of-split-schools-metropolitan-epifaniy.html|title=Patriarch Filaret talks of split, schools Metropolitan Epifaniy|date=15 May 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerkva.info/posts/zvernennya-patriarkha-filareta-do-vsiyeyi-ukrayinskoyi-pravoslavnoyi-pastvy|title=ЗВЕРНЕННЯ ПАТРІАРХА ФІЛАРЕТА ДО ВСІЄЇ УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ ПРАВОСЛАВНОЇ ПАСТВИ|date=14 May 2019|website=www.cerkva.info|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/orthodox/ocu/75797/|title=Відмова від статусу Патріархату була чисто ситуативною, - почесний Патріарх Філарет виступив із заявою|date=15 May 2019|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref>
Filaret also said he was asked by the [[Bartholomew I of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarch]] not to put forward his (Filaret) candidacy at the council, and that {{Interlanguage link|Metropolitan Emmanuel of France|lt=|fr|Emmanuel Adamakis|WD=}} asked him not to wear the [[koukoulion]]; Filaret was also asked to nominate any bishop for the post of primate; Filaret agreed to those demands and said he chose "humiliation" in order for the church to [[Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine#Tomos of autocephaly|get the tomos]]. Filaret also said that giving up the status of patriarchate was a demand of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in order for the Ecumenical Patriarchate to grant a tomos to a Metropolis which was part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Filaret said that therefore "giving up on the status of patriarchy was purely situational. Only the Local Council of the church, which created the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate|Kyiv Patriarchate]], may cancel the decision to establish the Kyiv Patriarchate. No such council has been convened. This means the Kyiv Patriarchate remains in place and continues to operate, especially since it is registered with state bodies." He justified himself saying that during the 15 December 2018 unification council, they "gave up on the status of Patriarchate" but that the council "was not a council of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church, but the one of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople".<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":14" />
On 14 August 2019, the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church|UAOC]] legally ceased to exist because its legal entity merged with the legal entity of the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine|OCU]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=15236|title=Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church ceases to exist|date=14 August 2019|website=www.interfax-religion.com|access-date=2019-08-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/ukrainian-autocephalous-orthodox-church-ceases-to-exist.html|title=Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church ceases to exist {{!}} KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice|date=2019-08-14|website=KyivPost|access-date=2019-08-16}}</ref>
On 14 December 2019, after the meeting of the enlarged Bishops' Council, held on December 14 in Kyiv on the occasion of the anniversary of the creation of the OCU, Epiphanius declared that the procedure of liquidation of the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church|UAOC]] as well as the [[UOC-KP]] had been completed the day before. He added: "Such structures no longer exist. In confirmation of that, in the State Register there is marked 'activity DISCONTINUED{{' "}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/orthodox/ocu/78178/|title=Митрополит Епіфаній оголосив про юридичне припинення існування УПЦ КП та УАПЦ|date=14 December 2019|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2019-12-14}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]
* [[2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism]]
* [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]
* [[Epiphanius I (Metropolitan of Kyiv)]]
* [[History of Christianity in Ukraine]]
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{reflist|22em}}
== External links ==
{{commonscatinline}}
* Video of the beginning of the council (vote by raising hands to approve: the list of the secretaries, the members of the audit committee, and the members of the control committee. Metropolitan Emmanuel (Adamakis) reading the message of Patriarch Bartholomew to the council) on Ukrainian [[5 Kanal (Ukraine)|Channel 5]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riES9-DlHoI Розсекречене відео з Об'єднавчого Собору зі створення Української Православної Церкви] ([https://www.facebook.com/Orthodox.in.Ukraine/videos/482571265604272/ also on the official Facebook of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine])
* Speeches of Poroshenko and Metropolitan Epiphany after Epiphany's election on Ukrainian [[5 Kanal (Ukraine)|Channel 5]]: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IebocUpZjU Створення Української Церкви. Урочистості на Софіївській площі - ПОВНЕ відео]
* Metropolitan Epiphany's speech after his election: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OKUhMPugLY Ми зуміли засвідчити, що ми можемо створити в Україні єдину помісну православну церкву - Епіфаній]
{{notelist}}
[[Category:2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism]]
[[Category:2018 in Christianity]]
[[Category:Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]
[[Category:Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]
[[Category:2018 in Ukraine]]
[[Category:December 2018 in Europe]]