Ecumenical Patriarchate starts procedures required to provide autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Poroshenko

The Holy Synod, under the chairmanship of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew decided to begin the procedures necessary to provide autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, according to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

"The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate accepted for consideration the appeal of the President of Ukraine to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on granting the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada’s resolution on its support (the Appeal), as well as the corresponding appeals of the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox churches. Also, the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate decided to initiate the procedures necessary for the provision of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. In particular, other local Orthodox churches will be informed accordingly", - presidential administration reports.