Crimean diocese remains under authority of Russian Orthodox Church’s head
Its representatives voted against the amendments to the Statute on the governance of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
SIMFEROPOL, May 28. /TASS/. The Diocese of Simferopol and Crimea remains under the authority of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, as its representatives voted against the amendments to the Statute on the governance of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the diocese said in a statement on Saturday.
"The delegation of the Diocese of Simferopol and Crimea, headed by Metropolitan Lazarus of Simferopol and Crimea, attended the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church via video link," the statement says.
"The delegation of the Diocese of Simferopol and Crimea unanimously voted against the Council’s resolution and the proposed amendments to the Statute on the governance of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Diocese of Simferopol and Crimea remains under the omophorion of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia," the statement reads.
At the video conference, Metropolitan Lazarus drew the attention of the Council’s members to the fact that the current canonical status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church was optimal.
The resolution of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was held in Kiev on Friday, states that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church declared "its full independence and autonomy." In addition, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was hopeful to resume dialogue with the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine and pledged to open Ukrainian Orthodox parishes abroad, which is also the prerogative of an Autocephalous Church.