We of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the Diaspora are mindful of the death of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Alexy II. Our sincere sympathies are extended to the synod of bishops of the Church of Moscow and Russian Orthodox Christians everywhere. Indeed we morn their pain, in this generally unexpected death of their leader and father in Christ.

The Patriarch served during an historical and unprecedented time of Russian history. Certainly, Alexy II made great attempts to revive the spiritual life in his country in the post-Soviet period.While these included the liberation of Russian Orthodoxy from methods it had become accustomed to during the communist years, he also continued to adhere to older models which do not represent the value of a separation of church and state, a key characteristic of democratic nations. Often, this approach did not draw a clear boundary between freedom of religion and the idea of an "official state church."

Unlike the Russian Church which enjoyed freedom to operate throughout the former Soviet Union, the Ukrainian Churches experienced forced liquidation under the totalitarian regime, therefore requiring a complete re-emergence and re-building after the fall of the USSR. If we are to be honest, we cannot help but recall that the difficult and confusing canonical situation in Ukraine is due in large part, to the refusal of the Russian Orthodox Church and the late Patriarch in particular, to recognize the rightful historical place held by the Church of Kyiv. Freed from the control of the domination systems of the past, Alexy II would have been able to freely concur with the autocephaly of Ukrainian Orthodoxy.

As Ukrainian Orthodox Christians, we are hopeful that the successor of Patriarch Alexy II may make the initiative to admit the faultiness of the belief that Kyiv is merely the geographical predecessor of Russian civilization before its center was transferred to a more suitable location in Moscow. We further pray that this successor will work together with others in the Orthodox communion who have already recognized the necessity to treat the historic self-determined character of the Church of Ukraine with integrity.

December 6, 2008
New York, USA

+MYKHAYIL
Archbishop-Metropolitan of New York
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church