FOR THE RECORD: Orthodox bishops' statement to the clergy and faithful (11/09/97)

FOR THE RECORD: Orthodox bishops' statement to the clergy and faithful

Reprinted below is the full text of a statement issued on October 14 in response to recent developments affecting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. and Diaspora. The statement was distributed as part of the press kit issued in conjunction with the pastoral visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Ukrainian Orthodox Center in South Bound Brook, N.J.

Dearly beloved brothers and sisters in Christ! Glory be to our Lord!

Since the meeting that took place between His All-Holiness Bartholomew, ecumenical patriarch, and the patriarch of Moscow in Odesa, Ukraine, in late September, we have read many press releases quoting Moscow Patriarchate sources, who obviously have their own motives, about His All Holiness' remarks at that meeting. We also have received several letters and faxes from parish boards and from individuals who have been extremely critical of your hierarchs, some openly disrespectful, hateful and degrading.

It strikes us as rather strange that most of the letters condemn the "sellout, once again, by the Greek patriarch to the patriarch of Moscow of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," basing their belief solely on the statements made by the long-dreaded Moscow Patriarchate. It seems rather astounding that there is such a willingness in some circles to take the word of those they have distrusted so much all these years and utilize them to attack their own hierarchs. The leaders of some actions against the hierarchs of our Church are individuals who do not even belong to our Church here in America and who worked against Metropolitan Mstyslav all his life in diaspora and who now call upon his name to support their deceitful arguments and outright lies. We have attempted to react to them with patience and understanding, but they do not deserve such.

We have received calls from some individuals demanding that the visit of His All-Holiness, scheduled at our Metropolia Center in South Bound Brook, N.J., for October 27 be canceled as a protest against the Ecumenical Patriarchate's actions and words. We write to tell you, dearly beloved, that this is a step we are not prepared to take and will not take, in the interests of our Church here in the U.S.A. and diaspora, and in Ukraine. It is precisely through our affiliation with the Patriarchate of Constantinople that we now have a voice on the stage of world Orthodoxy, a voice that has for decades been ignored because of the political circumstances we found ourselves in throughout our life here in the diaspora. Ours is a voice, however, which is not heard amongst our brethren in the Church jurisdictions in Ukraine.

We feel compelled to state to you clearly that we are no longer willing to remain the scapegoats for the inability of our brothers in Ukraine to come to some sort of understanding and cooperation with one another to avoid the terrible tragedy of division within the ranks of Christ's Church. We can no longer attempt to justify the unwillingness to resolve the issues that divide Ukrainian Orthodox Christians in Ukraine while tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of our faithful are lost to the sects and cults now flourishing throughout our great Orthodox nation. This continued division must be finally dealt with by the primates of Ukraine, who will be required to answer before God for their action or inaction. They have not embraced the consultation of their brothers who reside beyond the borders of Ukraine.

His Holiness Patriarch Mstyslav attempted for three years prior to his death to resolve the issues that divide Ukrainian Orthodoxy. He himself traveled to Constantinople seeking the advice and assistance of the ecumenical patriarchate. His last will and testament begged the Orthodox hierarchs of Ukraine to come together to resolve their differences and to create a single united Church in Ukraine - to remain in one room until they had accomplished that goal. Over the past four years since his death your council of bishops, along with the Permanent Conference of Bishops beyond the Borders of Ukraine, have sent several delegations to Ukraine in 1993, 1994, 1995 and, most recently, in August of 1997. Our Metropolitan Council has had a representative of the Metropolitan frequently representing our interests before the hierarchs of Ukraine. In spite of all this, not one concrete, successful step toward unity of mind and purpose, let alone administration, can be identified.

Our most recent delegation visited each of the jurisdictions prior to the World Forum of Ukrainians. The delegation met with the president of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, after which the president stood before the World Forum and publicly stated for the first time that the independent nation of Ukraine has the right to its own independent Church. The entire delegation returned home discouraged and embarrassed at what was witnessed and heard during meetings with hierarchs and at what took place during the roundtable discussion on religion at the World Forum. In our consultations with the jurisdictions we still hear only accusations about who cooperated with the Soviet intelligence agencies during the long winter of Communist oppression.

The time has come, dearly beloved, to state the facts as they are. Those who lead in Ukraine must begin to search for solutions within and cease looking elsewhere - outside Ukraine - for someone else to solve their problems for them. The patriarch of Constantinople cannot be blamed for his inability to recognize all jurisdictions in Ukraine - especially on the basis of size. We hierarchs of the diaspora cannot be blamed for refusing to side with one group opposing another so as to provide a "seal of authenticity."

The history of our relationship with our brethren in Ukraine over the past eight years is one replete with disappointment. We have been extremely discouraged in all our attempts to assist on a neutral basis, whether our assistance be consultative, of a material nature or of a spiritual nature. We will not attempt here to outline all the incidents that would have turned away those less dedicated to our cause. We are, however, determined Ukrainian Orthodox bishops and will continue to offer our assistance - all provided from your generosity - when and where it will be accepted.

We have within the last year alone - in addition to sending our delegation to Ukraine - provided over $17,500 of financial aid to six seminaries throughout Ukraine, with primary aid going to the seminary and theological academy in Kyiv. We have just published a beautiful new Book of Epistles in conjunction with the Kyiv Patriarchate, at the cost of $15,000. We can and will do more with your cooperation.

We remain dedicated to the spiritual growth and development of our Holy Church in Ukraine, dearly beloved, but we also need to remember that we are called to the continued growth of our Holy Church here in the United States and in the Diaspora. There are those who believe that the only purpose for the existence of our Church here is to support the Church of Ukraine. We say to you very bluntly that they are wrong. The purpose of our Church here and in Ukraine is the salvation of souls. As hierarchs consecrated by God, we are not prepared to see the branches of Ukrainian Orthodoxy beyond the borders of Ukraine weakened or destroyed by a continued consumption with only the issues of Ukraine. Just as those hierarchs in Ukraine answer before God for the preservation of Ukrainian Orthodoxy in Ukraine, we must answer before Him for the U.S.A. and diaspora. We face many more subtle threats to our existence here, dearly beloved, than our brethren face in Ukraine. If we, together, fail to confront those threats and defend against them, we will be powerless to assist anyone in Ukraine.

We have been told over the past few weeks that the faithful of our Church here in the U.S.A. should boycott the ecumenical patriarch's visit to South Bound Brook. This is in, dearly beloved, if we want His All-Holiness to leave our center with the feeling that our Church population is so small that he need not concern himself with us or with the issue of Ukraine. We have been told that there will be protests during His All-Holiness' visit. This is fine also, dearly beloved, if we want His All-Holiness to leave our center with the feeling that the Church here in the diaspora is just as divided as the Church in Ukraine, and he need not concern himself with us or with the issue of Ukraine.

We pray that the faithful of our Holy Church finally begin to ask what the motives are of those individuals who seek to divide Christ's Body here in the U.S.A. and the diaspora and who it is that sponsors them. Further, they must ask themselves if they can truly believe that their hierarchs, who have given their lives to our Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church, are capable of being what some accuse them of being in open letters and pamphlets. Why are the hierarchs statements deliberately distorted and changed? Who has so consistenty attempted to assist Ukraine over these past eight years, as have your hierarchs, with your support? Those who seek to separate the flock from its shepherds are the wolves in sheep's clothing. We pray sincerely that the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of those who distrust so much, as they have always distrusted, that they fail to see the opportunities which God has placed before us today.

Let us grab hold of those opportunities to influence the thinking of Orthodox world leaders and our brothers and sisters in the faith, so that we need not stand alone in demanding what is rightfully ours for our native Ukraine. If we place ourselves in self-imposed isolation from the Orthodox world, as opposed to the "political" isolation we already know so well, we will have no one but ourselves to blame if we become the "voice in the wilderness" that few will want to hear.

May God open the eyes of those who see and the ears of those who hear - both within and without our Ukrainian Orthodox community in Christ - to the comprehension of God's Grace. In His own time, He will see when Ukraine is fully prepared for the next step in her historical development. Let us search together for the ways and means we might utilize to assist Him in preparing our native land for His continued Grace.

We ask for your prayers for our humble souls, and for all those who have given so much and will continue to give so much of their very lives during this slow and deliberate transformation of our great Orthodox nation of Ukraine. She can be transformed from a nation severely weakened in so many ways by decades of oppression back into the spiritual Goliath she once was. Ukraine can, once again, become the source of Orthodox spirituality, education and faith for all the world, as she was for centuries. Our combined efforts, blessed by God, will make this so. May our Lord be our strength and the Holy Spirit our guide as we continue to build our Holy Church here and in Ukraine into the new millennium.

By the Grace of God, Your Hierarchs,

Ý Constantine, Metropolitan
Ý Antony, Archbishop
Ý Vsevolod, Archbishop
Ý Paisij, Bishop

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