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Mar 25th, 2025
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Dear Friends, according to recent statistics the UGCC is now the second largest in Ukraine: KIEV, Feb 12, 03 (CWNews.com) -- The Ukrainian government has released statistics on registered religious bodies, showing that the Byzantine-rite
Ukrainian Catholic Church is now the second-largest single religious group
in the country.
Although Orthodox Christians account for a substantial percentage of religious believers in Ukraine, a three-way split among the Orthodox has
produced a confused struggle for jurisdiction among the Ukrainian Orthodox Church allied with the Moscow Patriarchate, the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate, and the Autocephalous Orthodox
Church.
The government figures for 2003 show that 10,040 parishes are affiliated with the Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, 3,196 with the growing Kiev
Patriarchate, and 1,110 with the Autocephalous Church. The latter two groups, which broke from the Moscow Patriarchate after the independence of
Ukraine, are growing rapidly; of the 726 new Orthodox parishes registered by the government, only 72 are affiliated with the Moscow-backed group.
The Ukrainian Catholic Church now has 3,334 registered parishes, leaving it in second place behind the Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate. There are also 847 Latin-rite Roman Catholic parishes.
Protestants in Ukraine are represented in 2,272 Baptist communities, 1,366 Pentecostal, 928 Adventist, and 790 classified as "charismatic." There are also 262 Jewish groups, and 462 Muslim. This is extremely encouraging news considering only fifteen years ago the UGCC was illegal and supressed during Soviet oppression.
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Dear Diak Radoslav, However, I would hasten to add that statisticians make too much over the split in Orthodoxy over there. The Kyivan Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, although not yet canonically recognized by their loving brothers in the Russian Orthodox Church  are PRACTICALLY one in every which way except a formal, juridical one. The Russian press also tends to disparage three Ukrainian Churches together as "Churches of the Kyivan Tradition," namely the UGCC, the UOC-KP and the UAOC. It would not be the first time in our history when enemies have unified us through a commonly shared experience of hatred . . . Alex
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I really do not believe in the statistics that were presented. The statistics are based upon the number of parishes of each church group. We cannot forget that the MPs have the lagest number of churches but this does not of course correspond to the number of faithful. From what I have heard, a large number of churches actually should be handed over to the Orthodox of the Kyivan Patriarchate as well as to the UAOC in certain regions because either they have very small churches where the faithful barely fit inside to attend services or even maybe no churches at all. In my opinion statistics such as these are manipulated by certain groups, even political parties and organizations. Although I really did like numbers refering to the growth of the UGCC. I guess there is and will be a trend to a continuous growth and maybe because of this there will be a time where True Ukrainian Orthodox and Greek Catholics will say: It's time to UNITE.
Lauro
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Dear Lauro, Excellent points! (I really AM sorry you didn't get to see the Patriarch! ). The argument of canonicity applied by the ROC against the Kyivan Orthodox Patriarchate is its "last stand" so to speak to legitimate its continued dominating ecclesial presence in Ukraine and its grip on those Churches you mentioned. This way, it is not a question of arguing, from the POV of the ROC, "which Orthodox Church should get what" but "We are the ONLY canonical church and therefore it should ALL belong to us." Ukies tend to like being divided and this does indeed hurt common cause. A united Orthodox Church there could at least have a greater hope of being recognized as canonical by world Orthodoxy which has, to date, tended to acknowledge the Russian Church alone. What is truly disturbing to Ukrainians is how Greek Orthodox and others who have struggled with forces bent on destroying them as National Churches SEEM now to be telling Ukrainians that they have only one canonical option with respect to Orthodoxy - the Moscow Patriarchate or nothing. Happily, we Ukies are used to being called "schismatics" and "heretics" where really our independent Church/Nation state is implied at one and the same time. I'm ready to unite with our Ukrainian Orthodox brothers any time. Aren't you, Brazil Man? Alex
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Does anyone know whether talks are still taking place under the Patronage of the Ecumenical Patriarch with the Ukrainian Orhtodox jurisdictions in order to develop a truly autocephalous Church?
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Dear Beloved, Unbeatable Brother Brian! Yes, as I understand it, renewed contacts are constantly made. But the official policy is . . . as you've heard it already. I don't understand what the Russian Church has against Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv. He came from the Russian Orthodox Church and, from what I understand, also had a KGB connection at one time . . . So what do they have against him? As the UGCC Patriarch Lubomyr said in an interview here, the Russians still see Ukraine as its own backyard and don't want to give it up. To integrate the Ukrainian Orthodox Church within Russian Orthodoxy would be a way to strive toward the reintegration of Ukraine within Russia once more, as he said, and as Ukies also believe. I don't believe the EP will recognize Ukrainian Orthodox Church autonomy. Many Ukrainian Orthodox don't believe that as well which is ONE REASON why there are Ukrainian Orthodox converts to the UGCC, even in eastern Ukraine, as I heard from those who accompanied the Patriarch during his visit here. It's one big complicated mess, to be sure. Alex
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Originally posted by Orthodox Catholic:
I don't understand what the Russian Church has against Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv.
I know that he is a quite controversial figure.
He came from the Russian Orthodox Church and, from what I understand, also had a KGB connection at one time . . .
Oh Well, Alex. Don't go taking the ROCOR line
God knows how many of us would have acted if we grew up in that kind of society. Not all of us were called to be New Martyrs. Not to justify collaboration of any kind but these situations are usually more complicated then that.
As the UGCC Patriarch Lubomyr said in an interview here, the Russians still see Ukraine as its own backyard and don't want to give it up.
Well, I believe the majority of the parishes of the MP were in Ukraine prior to 1991.
To integrate the Ukrainian Orthodox Church within Russian Orthodoxy would be a way to strive toward the reintegration of Ukraine within Russia once more, as he said, and as Ukies also believe.
yes, the ugly face of nationalism rears it's head.
I don't believe the EP will recognize Ukrainian Orthodox Church autonomy.
I tend to agree. It is sad but like you, I don't see the MP accepting a truly autonomous Ukrainian Church and the EP does not want a major repeat of the Estonian situation.
It's one big complicated mess, to be sure.
May God grant a solution!
AlexBrian (who is very happy to see you back on the Forum)
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Alex,
I get along pretty well with the Ukie Orthodox down here in Brazil(UAOC), although they are a small group if you compare them to the number of Ukie Greek Catholics. Every Monday the Ukie Orthodox have a moleben to Archangel Michael, I usually go twice a month. I also get along well with Kyr Jeremiah of the Orthodox church (very nice and friendly person). He was the one that told me that he would really like to recieve Kyr Lubomyr and make some kind of reception for him.
There are no Orthodox churches of the Kyivan Patriarchate in Brazil though.
Lauro
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Dear Brian,
Actually, I don't blame the MP or the KP for any dealings with the KGB - I agree with you. The MP sometimes acts as if it is totally "clean" of such involvement as it speaks down to the KP.
As for nationalism, the rearing of an ugly head thing is a saying that has outlived its usefulness, I think!
Not all of nationalism is ugly. It can be a vehicle for the articulation of a people's suffering under oppression, as well as a guide for liberation, both as a church and as a state.
Or so my socialist university professors used to tell us . . .
And which Church, especially in the East, is NOT nationalistic or even chauvinistic, let it cast the first stone!
Alex
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But of course, such chauvinism should be worked on to be overcome!  The Gospel of Christ is not limited to the nation state or a national consciousness, thanks be to God! Gospodi Pomilui!!
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Dear Brian,
As for chauvinism, yes indeed - it is anti-Christian.
Nationalism need not be, nor the existence of National Churches, such as obtain in Holy Orthodoxy.
Where would the Ukrainian people be without their national Orthodox and Greek Catholic Churches?
Or the Copts? The Greeks? etc.
Donald Attwater said it best, I believe, when he said that due to the destruction of the Eastern peoples other secular institutions, the whole of their national/cultural life is expressed within the one remaining institution they had available to them - their Churches.
For these peoples, their Churches were/are their experience of nationhood.
Alex
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Dear Alex: Not all of nationalism is ugly. It can be a vehicle for the articulation of a people's suffering under oppression, as well as a guide for liberation, both as a church and as a state. How true, how true! AmdG (Who is happier than even Brian! )
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Dear Amado, Did you win a free trip to Florida or something? Alex
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I've mentioned this before and I will raised it again, pertaining "Patriarch" Filaret. I do not dispute that Ukraine should receive its own autocephalous Church - it should. However, Filaret has, IMO, showed much pride in his assertation of independence from Moscow. I do not debate the merits/non-merits of HH Alexis II; as I see it, Filaret seems to want to "get" one over the Russian Church. As a Bulgarian, I was annoyed - extremely - when he announced that he was going to create parallel Orthodox Churches to mirror those of the established ones. In his desire to have allies, he actively supported the anti-patriarch Pimen and his schismatics followers, acknowledging him as the true Patriarch of the Bulgarian Church. When - and its is a case of when - Ukraine gets its own independent church recognsied by the whole Family, I think that Filaret would have not to be involved. He has ruffled too many feathers; not only in the Russian Church, but also in the Serbian and Bulgarian. He has been excommunicated and anathematised - this has been accepted by all the churches that make the Orthodox Church. To me, he is outside of the Church. He is a nuisance that is bringing disunity amongst the faithful in Ukraine. But then I am not making any apologies for the actions of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Anton
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Dear Anton, Quite right! I would much prefer His Beatitude Lubomyr as the Patriarch of all Ukrainians! Alex
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