Dogma; rite
Ukrainian
Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) believes that Sacred
Scripture and Sacred Tradition are the main sources of knowledge
of God. It adopted the Greek version of Old Testament (Septuaginta)
and New Testament. St. Cyril and Methodius (9th
century), teachers of the Slavs, were the first translators
of the Scripture into Old Church Slavonic language. Old Church
Slavonic translation had been published for the first time
in Ostrih on 1581. UAOC takes part in Ukrainian Bible Society's
project of publishing of Sacred Scripture in Ukrainian on
2000. It will be fourth translation of the Bible in XXth
century.
An
invisible beneficial presence of Holy Spirit, who was sent
on the Apostles by the Father in Jesus' name in answer to
Jesus' prayer, realizes by the seven sacraments: Baptism,
Chrismation, Eucharist, Penance, the Anoiting of the Sick,
Holy Orders and Matrimony.
The Apostolic succession of consecrations is secured be mediation
of bishops of Constantinople, Bulgarian, Jerusalem, and later
- Russian and Polish Orthodox Churches.
UAOC
celebrate the Divine Service in obedience to tradition of
byzantine rite. The usual daily cycle of services includes
9 services: Vespers, Compline, the Midnight Office, Orthos,
the First Hour, the Third Hour, the Sixth Hour, the Ninth
Hour and the Divane Liturgy. The Divane Liturgy is celebrated
according the orders of Saint John Chrisostomos (mainly),
Saint Basil the Great (10 in a year) and Saint Gregory the
Great or - the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (weekdays
on Great Feasts).
The
popular cult of Theotokos and sains, special church melodies
- Kyiv and Halych chants, wide use of embroidered vestments,
gonfalons, towels are particularities of ukrainian liturgical
tradition. Blessing of special bread (Pascha) on Easter Day,
water on Theophany, apples on Transfiguration, branches of
willow-tree on Palm Sunday are the most popular Church ceremonies.
The blessing of water as well as on Theophany is celebrated
on August 1 in the memory of baptizing of Ukraine (988). The
special service - passia - is celebrated on Great Feasts.
UAOC holds an old (Julian) calendar in its liturgical life.
Contemporary Ukrainian language relieves Old Church Slavonic
language after 1919 as liturgical language of UAOC. Laics
pray under divine service time in church standing. There are
no seats in churches.
Organization
Notion
"autocephalous" originates from greek words autos is oneself
and kefalh is head. It means Church status, independent in
jurisdiction and united with other autocephalous Orthodox
Churches into One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, whom
Heaven Head Jesus Christ is. All Orthodox Churches are self-governing
or autocephalous. Special authority belongs to Ecumenical
Patriarch of Constantinople-New Rome as to first among equal
Orthodox Churches.
A
Church right is based on the canons of Saint Apostles, the
teaching of seven Ecumenical Councils (I - 325; VII - 787).
Special authority of posterior decrees and missage by Ecumenical
Patriarch and three East Patriarchs, canons of some Regional
Councils, first from which, Ankira, got through 314 , and
last, Constantinople, - 879, acknowledges. Canons of 12 Saint
Fathers were acknowledged by decision of Trulle Council (691-692)
for all Orthodox Church.
A
canonical law of Autocephalous Orthodox Churches consists
of decisions of its Councils, their statutes, edicts of Bishop
Council and Patriarch or Sacred Synod. Modern UAOC canonical
law consists of canons of Kyiv metropoly (Ecumenical Patriarchy,
before 1686), Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church, consisting
mainly of Ukrainians (1924-1942), Ukrainian Autocephalous
Orthodox Church abroad (after 1942) and in Ukraine after legalisation
of UAOC in Ukraine in 1989. UAOC suppose as uncanonical a
period of staying under jurisdiction of Patriarch and Sacred
Synod of Russian Orthodox Church (1686-1989). Canonical documents
of this time do not hold competence for UAOC. UAOC respects
the canonical heritage of attempt to revival of UAOC under
Soviet occupation (1919-1936). But circumstances of atheistic
regime made impossible really canonical life of Church.
UAOC
in Ukraine considers special respect for Ecumenical Patriarch
of Constantinople-New Rome as the First among orthodox hierarchs
in tne whole world and historic head of Ukrainian Church.
It holds consciousness of community with UAOC abroad in spite
of temporary division after death of Patriarch Mstyslav (1993).
A contemporary UAOC statute was taken on All-Church Council
on June 5-6, 1990, and changes additions to it - All-Church
Council on May 28-29, 1997.
UAOC
is guided by All-Church Council, which gathers once on three
years. During this time UAOC is guided by Bishop Council as
higher organ of canonical authority. All the bishops of UAOC
compose the Bishop Council, which gathers twice on a year.
Patriarch is canonical head and higher authority of UAOC.
He has a title: His Holiness Patriarch of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
Patriarch Council is auxiliary organ for governing of UAOC.
It consists of Patriarch, 2 bishops (H.E.Metropolitan Andriy,
H.G.Bishop Makariy), 2 prelates (V.Rev.Archpriest Ihor Kurpita,
V.Rev. Archpriest Bohdan Chelyadyn), and 2 laymen (Mr Yevhen
Sverstyuk, Dr Roman Maksymovych).
Patriarchy
is an administrative centre of UAOC. It is disposed in St
Michael Monastery, Kyiv. Chief of Staff: H.E. Archbishop Ihor
Isichenko. Chancellor: Rev. Fr Valery Kopiyka.
Postal
adress: Tryokhsvyatytelska st. 8a Kyiv 01001.
Phones:
+ 380 (44) 228 61 98; 229 32 18. Fax: +380 (44) 229 02 78.
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