[Cronos]

I think this is tricky -- the Autocephalous churches in the Orthodox Church have been based on separate countries - so political separation. Since the Ukraine is a separate country, it should have its own Patriarch of Metropolitan as long as they remain true to the orthodox faith.

I don't see the Ukrainians having suffered spiritually or religiously under the Russians or the Russian patriarch, but just as the Serbs have their own Patriarch and autocephalous church, why not the Ukrainians?

Seriously - since the various churchs remain true to the orthodox faith and are only split by political countries, why not a separate ukrainian autocephalous church

NRx you talk of Patriarch Theodore II -- he's in charge of another enclave in Alexandria of 50K people -- whereas 95% of Egyptians Christians are under the Coptic Pope

you also have the Orthodox Church of Poland -- again a Political creation, created by the Patriarch of Constantinople and he HAD a point

I really don't see how you can agree to having separate autocephalous Orthodox churchs of Serbia, Poland etc. and not grant an autocephalous church of Ukraine

[MarMema]

As I recall there used to be two Ukraine Orthodox Churches.

One was a good guy, the other was not. I cannot remember why.

I have spent more time on the illness in America, I suppose. No one seems to care about that beyond the parish level. At least not yet. Pride and politics and cash.

More prayer is needed.

[NRx]

Theodore is the Orthodox Primate of all Africa, His omiphorion extends over the entire continent and includes millions of Orthodox faithful. It is true that in Egypt his flock is quite small. But outside of Egypt, Orthodoxy is among the fastest growing religious faith groups in the continent.