Istanbul Church of Ukraine. What really means the text of the Tomos

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Стамбульская церковь Украины. Что на самом деле означает текст Томоса

January 6, in Istanbul, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was presented to representatives of Ukraine, the Tomos of autocephaly – the document, which was written by theologians Fanara and decorated on parchment, a painter of mount Athos.

The text of the Tomos in the Ukrainian translation appeared immediately after the ceremony, signed by Patriarch Bartholomew in the presence of extensive delegation from the Ukraine on the 5th of January. A little later publicly announced his and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who made Tomos one of the main points of his election program.

However, based on the text of this document, was that Ukraine did not receive a new independent Church, and the schism in Ukrainian Orthodoxy will only deepen.

Characteristically, in the text of the Tomos, in addition to the name “Orthodox Church” is mentioned another name – “the Holy Church of Ukraine” (under the name the Ecumenical Patriarchate urges to mention ptsu other Orthodox churches). Or STSU. That the network immediately began to decipher as “the Istanbul Church of Ukraine.”

That really means Tomos, analyzed the “Country”.

1. Subordinate to the Ecumenical Patriarchate

The document defines a new Church “spiritual daughter” of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which by its status will Metropolitanate headed by Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine (by the way exactly the same status has so far been the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church his Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry, and to abandon him is not going). In the text of the Tomos is an appeal to all world Orthodox churches (there are 14) to recognize the Ukrainian “nurse”, which will take 15-th place in the diptych of Orthodox churches in the world.

The jurisdiction of the newly established churches will only apply to the territory of Ukraine, to open foreign parishes she can’t. All the parishes of the Diaspora will eventually be enshrined in the subordination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

According to this provision, the right of the new Orthodox Church is much narrower than some other churches. So, Constantinople, Antioch, Moscow, Georgian, Serbian, Romanian and Bulgarian Patriarchates have parishes and dioceses outside its substantive jurisdiction. This means that these Patriarchates nourished compatriots, who want to remain true to the traditions of their Church while staying abroad.

Submission Bartholomew directly forward and five bishops of the UOC-KP, which was previously sent by the head of the Kiev Patriarchate Filaret in foreign parishes.

Also, Constantinople would become the final arbiter for all disputes within the Church. Moreover, literally on the fingers of these provisions can be understood that in case of conflict, the bishops of the Church with her head Epiphanius, they will be able to solve problems by reference to Bartholomew, crossed the head of the new Primate of the Church of Epiphany.

Interestingly, the right of Constantinople to receive peremptory court decision substantiates its status as a “center of Orthodoxy”, and still link to the wrong items of the canons of the 4th Ecumenical Council Chalcedonica. Instead, paragraph 17 of the canons, which deals with the judicial power of the Constantinople see, in the Tomos of the right Bartholomew justify a reference to the ban on the marriage of monks.

And though it is clear that such an unfortunate typo crept into the document accidentally, it raises the question about the questionable level of preparation of this historic document.

Meanwhile, Deputy head of the AP Rostyslav Pavlenko on his page in Facebook said that in spite of the above facts the new Church is considered to be independent.

“PCU status equal to Russian Orthodox Church, wrote Pavlenko. – When the PCU is stronger, when it will join those who now stays in MP – we can talk about getting recognized status of the Patriarchate. The position of the Tomos that the title of Primate cannot be changed without the consent Fanara – in fact, the path to this. The Church stronger, get recognition, gain credibility – it will be easier to negotiate the status of the Patriarchate. In the meantime, the Archdiocese is no worse than, and equal among equals.”

At the same time, the hierarchs of the UOC-MP (even those who had previously reacted positively to the question about autocephaly) also said that this “autocephaly” as ptsu they just do not need. The UOC in its current status has much more independence than the new Church under the supervision of Istanbul.

2. Millions in Istanbul

A new Orthodox Church will be not only legally and canonically dependent on Constantinople. From the creation of this Church Fanar receives a concrete tangible benefit.

First, in the text of the direct subordination of individual temples and monasteries in Constantinople. “The rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Exarchate in Ukraine and the sacred stavropigio saved and can’t be reduced”, – the document says.

“Country” already repeatedly wrote that in the framework of the agreement between Poroshenko and Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew signed on November 3, Fanaro will be given a minimum of 12 temples and monasteries. They will be in the status of a stauropegic monasteries, that is, subordinate directly to Istanbul. The text of the agreement, which was signed triumphal, and was not released publicly.

“Foreign parish, and stavropigio transferred to the direct subordination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and from there will be directly paid diocesan dues,” – said the priest Oleg Toczynski.

In the Administration Poroshenko refutes the expansion of the influence Fanara to Ukraine through the creation of a stauropegic monasteries.

“Exarchate – this is a representation of the mission, actually – “the Embassy”, which is located in St. Andrew’s Church. This refers to it. No other is not provided. There are no secret or certain agreements “stavropigio” (also referred to St. Andrew’s Church) does not exist”, – said Deputy head of the AP Rostislav Pavlenko.

In addition, in the text of the Tomos explicitly States that the chrism for the sacraments of the new Church structure will obtain in Constantinople.

“…the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, through its First canonical Locum Tenens of the Kiev Throne, is obliged to participate in Orthodox meetings in relation to important canonical, dogmatic and other issues that are going from time to time, according to the Holy tradition since the days of the Fathers. First, as approved, shall be sure to send appropriate Letters of Peace to the Ecumenical Patriarch and other primates, and he has the right to obtain, starting your peaceful home away from the mother Church of Constantinople, according to the custom, receiving from her and the Holy chrism, for the manifestation of spiritual unity with it”, – stated in the Tomos.

Miro – in Christianity specially prepared and consecrated mixture of aromatic oils and resins, used in the sacraments of the Church for anointing the body.

Purchasing this oil, the new members of the Church will have to go to Istanbul. At the same time, until now the UOC-KP Miro cooked in Ukraine from the Athos oil. His consecration once a year on Maundy Thursday before Easter he had done to the Patriarch, and then distributed in the diocese of the UOC-KP.

“Most recently, the Kyiv Patriarchate justified self-chrism as an essential basis of autocephaly. Now, you see, my opinion changed. That is evidence of inconsistency and lack of integrity,” – said the Abbot Jonah of the monastery of the UOC (a parishioner who, until recently, was Poroshenko himself) ion Cherepanov.

UOC Miro received in Moscow, but it was free. Metropolitan Sofrony of Cherkassy (which was considered one of the apologists of the establishment of a unified national Church in Ukraine, but after the publication of the text of the Charter of the DNC refused to go in it) in one of his interviews he admitted that he had received in Moscow for free is based a liter or two a year, depending on the number of Church sacraments. According to him, getting Miro in Istanbul will occur on a paid basis, but will also entail costs on the road priests for the world.

“Parishes PCU in Ukraine and selling in the world will bring Fanaru huge amount of money. I think we are talking about profit Fanara tens of millions of dollars annually,” says “Country,” political analyst Ruslan Bortnik, has long been involved in Church issues.

At the same time, in a recent interview Epiphanius claimed that the practice of obtaining this oil in Constantinople – as it is usual for many local churches.

“That is what we will receive chrism from the Ecumenical Patriarch – this paragraph was written in other Autocephalous local Orthodox churches, who received the Tomos of the Ecumenical Patriarch”, – he said in an interview “Straight”.

He sees nothing problematic in getting the world in Istanbul and Rostyslav Pavlenko. “Purely symbolic thing that exists in most of Tomasov. Does not entail any practical restrictions,” – he called it the Thomas situation on his page on Facebook.

3. Commanded to pray for Kirill

Text of the Tomos significantly narrowed the rights of the head of the new Church of the Epiphany. Except that he will not be able to appoint bishops abroad and deal with chrism, he is also obliged to participate in the pan-Orthodox meeting in Fanar. “PCU “obliged” to participate in pan-Orthodox meetings – that is, cathedrals, for example. So, if she says no, you’ll violate the terms of the Tomos! This means that this “Church” has no right to refuse to participate in the Cathedral for one reason or another. Which provides the Constantinople authority over it,” – said Cherepanov ion.

But another interesting situation in the Tomos, which requires Epiphany, making divine, to remember all the primates of the Orthodox churches.

“…each Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine needs to remember for an ancient tradition of our Holy fathers of the Ecumenical Patriarch and other primates of local Orthodox Churches, in a series of diptychs, according to the canonical order…”, – said in the text of the Tomos.

This means that Epiphanius should mention the services of all the heads of all Orthodox churches in the world, including Patriarch Kirill. In December, Epiphanius himself admitted that it was not mentioned in the Liturgy the Primate of the ROC Patriarch Kirill, because “we are at war. And so the Ukrainian people do not perceive that the newly elected Primate remembered the name of the Russian Patriarch.”

At the same time, the commemoration of the primates of local Orthodox churches in strict accordance to their place in the diptychs (the list of local churches) is one of the key characteristics of Church fellowship between them. Moreover, despite the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church in October broke Eucharistic communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Ecumenical Patriarch himself continues to remember Patriarch Kirill in its services in line with the names of all the heads of the Orthodox churches of the world.

Note that Petro Poroshenko has repeatedly said that the PCU needed in Ukraine, including the fact that after submitting Thomas in the churches no longer pray for the health of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill.

4. Poroshenko has immortalized himself in Tomos

A separate role in the Tomos given to the President of Ukraine. At the end of the document the name of the President, and it is noted that Tomos is not only Epiphanios, but also Petro Poroshenko.

“… Our Holy in Christ Great Church blesses and declares Orthodox Church of the Ukrainian Autocephalous… Is solved and residenoe, and joy made known to you from the distinguished center of Orthodoxy of the Cathedral was approved for permanent preservation issued this Patriarchal and Synodal Tomos, written and signed in the Code of our great Church of Constantinople of Christ, presented in the exact and identical copies of his Beatitude the Primate of the Holy Church of Ukraine, Kir Epiphanius and His Excellency the President Mr. Petro Poroshenko, the eternal proof and permanent performance”, – stated in the text.

Thus, between the previously released draft of the Charter of the new Church and granted a Tomos, nothing has changed except their appearance in the document the names of Petro Poroshenko.

“Poroshenko is not trading in fact for the independence of the new Church, he traded for his name in the text of the Tomos. All the important questions of the new Church – canonical, financial, staffing will occur with the agreement of the Constantinople, in form it is very limited in the rights of the Archdiocese. From the Diaspora Ukraine finally refused to appoint bishops abroad would be impossible, this is the loss of money and influence, says “the Country,” political analyst Ruslan Bortnik. – Any controversial issues – on appeal from the Bartholomew. Real dogmatic authority in the new Church will belong to the Patriarch of Constantinople. We, as a country, for many years lost the chance to create a truly independent local Church”.

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