UAOC

UAOC - English acronym for "Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. It is one of the three major Orthodox jurisdictions in Ukraine. In addition, there are ecclesiastical structures outside of the Motherland, including North & South America and Western Europe.

The Patriarchal Cathedral of the UAOC is the historic church of St. Andrew the First-Called in Kyiv. The Primate (called "Predstoyatel" in Ukrainian) of the church since 2003 has been His Beatitude, MEFODIY, Metropolitan of Kyiv & All Ukraine, Father and Head of the UAOC worldwide. Vladyka MEFODIY was elected to succeed Patriarch Dymytry (Yarema).

Originally the source for most other Ukrainian Orthodox jurisdictions in the Diaspora, the political climate of the 1990s greatly reduced such a presence. Metropolitan MYKHAYIL (Javchak) leads the church in the Americas. Bishop PAUL PETER (Jesep) is the director of public affairs and government relations in the USA, for the central UAOC.

Metropolitan MEFODIY made an historic pastoral trip to the United States in early 2006, where he joined Metropolitan MYKHAYIL in visiting the Northeast. In Ukraine, Vladyka MEFODIY has given special emphasis to the improvement of seminary life and the education of candidates for the priesthood. He continues to work for the spiritual enrichment of the UAOC and the unification of the Orthodox churches of the nation.

See also Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.