Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine: Ukrainian Orthodox Church is showing steady growth dynamics

His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine presented his report on ‘Ukrainian Orthodoxy at the Turn of the Epoch. Modern Challenges and Development Trends’ at a plenary session of the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on 25 June 2008.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is demonstrating a steady growth dynamics at the present stage of its development as it grows both qualitatively and quantitatively.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church today numbers fifty-four dioceses, including eleven vicariates. Serving in 10.900 communities are 8.962 clergymen, including 8.517 priests and 445 deacons, and runs twenty educational institutions, including one academy, seven seminaries and twelve colleges as well as 3.850 Sunday schools. Living and praying in eighty-five monasteries and ninety convents (175 in total) are 4. 650 monastics.

According to Metropolitan Vladimir, the sharp increase of parishes up to 400-500 parishes in many dioceses has made it impossible for one hierarch to govern them efficiently. That is why the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church resolved to divide many dioceses thus giving the bishops an opportunity to have close contacts with their flock, and the ecclesiastical life to develop rapidly.

The First Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church noted the reform of the theological schools was being implemented more actively, and that the level of the knowledge of theology increased.

‘Our Church extends its presence in information space,’ the reporter noted. ‘The Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its structural units have founded fifty-six newspapers and sixteen journals. There are sixty-seven publications in the Internet, including religious information portals. The UOC is a patron of the ‘Glas’ media holding which has set up an Orthodox professional TV channel. The Church actively develops relations with secular media-resources.’

Metropolitan Vladimir added that all the above-said increased confidence of society in the Church. According to the 2007 polls, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the leader, enjoying 58% of public support.

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