“OCU hierarch”: Epiphany neglects church canons and episcopal oath

Joasaph Shibaev, Filaret and Epiphany. Photo: Vidomosti

The “hierarch” of the OCU, Joasaph Shibaev, commented on Epiphany’s decree on the removal of the Intercession church of Kiev from Filaret's jurisdiction and stated that this step does not comply with any norms of canonical law. He placed the corresponding post on his Facebook page.

“The ruling hierarch of the capital’s eparchy, His Holiness Patriarch Filaret, by his decree, banned Archpriest A. Trofimliuk in ministry. All orders of the ruling bishop are obligatory for his clerics, they are canonical and lawful,” said Shibaev.

He commented on the words of Epiphany that the orders on the UOC KP official letterheads are invalid in the OCU and considered these arguments to be contrary to law.

“No one has the right to cancel them, except the Church Court. Even if they were written on a scrap of a newspaper or, even, given orally with reliable witnesses, the “metropolitan” writes. “The arguments of the Primate that the patriarchal eparchy has not yet been re-registered, that the decrees issued on the letterhead of the UOC KP are not legally binding, in his opinion, are simply canonically illiterate. Or the Primate deliberately and defiantly violates them."

Based on the above, Joasaph Shibaev severely criticized Epiphany and accused him of neglecting the canons:

“How else can we more clearly demonstrate a complete disregard, and perhaps, just ignorance of the canon law? This is not only disregard for the canons, but also for the bishop's oath given before the Cross and the Gospel, which states that the bishop cannot interfere in the affairs of other dioceses. Apparently, Vladyka Epiphany believes that a Primate has nothing to do with the rule of canon law and the requirements of the bishop's oath! Unceremoniously interfering in the affairs of the patriarchal eparchy, the Primate renders himself guilty and defendant before the Church Court.”

Recall that at the end of May, a new conflict broke out between Epiphany and Filaret. Filaret, as a chancellor of the Kiev Eparchy of the OCU, found it necessary to ban the rector of the Intercession temple Alexander Trofimliuk (who is also a rector of the Theological Academy of the OCU and Epiphany’s aide) from priesthood and appoint another "priest" to this post. In response, Epiphany issued a decree whereby he transferred the above temple from the jurisdiction of Filaret to his administration. He substantiated his decision with the fact that the documents, published on behalf of the UOC KP, are no longer valid.

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