Metropolitan Clement of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) emphasized the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and suggested that the resolution of the Ukrainian church issue lies with the Pan-Orthodox Synaxis. In an interview on Ukrainian public television, Metropolitan Clement chose not to directly answer the journalist’s question about which Church he considers to be the Mother Church.
“The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is independent. The decision to grant it autocephaly will be made by the local Orthodox Churches,” stated Metropolitan Clement. He further explained that “it is ultimately the Orthodox Churches that will resolve the current conflict.”
When asked about the ongoing ecclesiastical dispute, he commented, “You are asking me questions that the entire Orthodox community cannot answer. There are currently 14 local Churches, including the ‘Macedonian’ Church (referring to the Ohrid Archdiocese), and 11 of them are questioning the actions of Patriarch Bartholomew regarding the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
Metropolitan Clement emphasized that determining the Mother Church is a matter for a Pan-Orthodox Synaxis. In response to the journalist’s question about his reluctance to answer, he said, “If I give one answer or the other, it will not satisfy the faithful of the OCU or the UOC.”
He concluded by stating, “I suggest convening a Synaxis of all local Orthodox Churches to address whether the actions of Patriarch Bartholomew were right or wrong. The majority of the Churches do not consider these actions justified or correct.”
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas