Ukrainian Orthodox Patriarchy

Question: 

I am trying to understand :
1- How many different Ukrainian Orthodox patriarche there are ?
2-  why ??  And why don't they unite as one Ukrainian Orthodox church ?
3-  Is there or has there ever been discusssions w/the Russian patriarch to unite as one Orthodox church ?

Very Rev. Ihor Kutash kutash@unicorne.org 

As is often the case with divine-human affairs, the matter is both very simple and quite complicated.

Simply put, the eye of faith will see that there is only one Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Ukraine, and indeed in all the universe. However this one Church is composed human beings with points of view and historical backgrounds and so it presents the sight of a Church divided into roughly three main groups. Two are one in their vision of a local Church of the people of Ukraine for the people of Ukraine - their diversity is based upon differing points of view as to how such a Church is constituted and who leads it. These two are: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate, led by Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko), and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church led by Metropolitan Methodius (no Patriarch since the repose of Patriarch Demetrius). The third, and largest numerically (also enjoying recognition by the world Orthodox community, while the other two do not as yet) is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the jurisdication of the Patriarch of Moscow, led by Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan). It has not yet taken a unified step to seek the status of a local Church for the Ukrainian people. One might say that the Russian empire continues to hold spiritual sway through this hierarchy, 13 years after the empire has broken up politically with Ukraine becoming a true sovereing state. As for your question about talks with the Russian Patriarch to form one Orthodox Church - a monolithic hierarchy leading a multinational community is not the vision of Orthodoxy. As a matter of fact this is one of the important differences between the Orthodox and the Catholics. Communities do better when they are led by local folks rather than by outsiders one of whose concerns is the terribly secular one of preserving and expanding empire. At any rate this is the way that a good many of the people of Ukraine - and many other nations as well - view the matter. I am personally inclined to agree with this assessment. I am sure that your proposal does not come from some desire to perpetuate an empire, but simply from the wish - normal and commendable - that there be a more apparent unity in the Body of Christ. But that is, forgive me for repeating myself, a matter at once simple and complex.

We may take comfort in the fact that the Lord sees, guides and never has and never will lose control over the situation.

Ukrainian Orthodoxy