On 20 May 2025, the Kyiv Theological Academy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church hosted a roundtable discussion “Conciliarism in the life of the Orthodox Church: from the Councils of Antiquity to the UOC Council in Theofania”. The event was attended by Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the rector of the Academy, Archbishop Sylvester of Bilohorodka, and a number of other hierarchs and theologians. At the invitation of the organisers, Sergii Bortnyk also took part in the roundtable.
The participation of Vyacheslav Horshkov, head of the Department for Religious Affairs of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), was significant. His speech was important in the context of law no. 3894, which is aimed at religious organisations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church and is currently coming into force. Mr Horshkov repeatedly emphasised the need for communication and dialogue – both between the state and religious organisations, and especially within churches.
In turn, Metropolitan Onufriy stressed that church-canonical issues should not be resolved by political means. In his opinion, the UOC should struggle for its independence without leaving the canonical field.
In his commentary, Sergii Bortnyk stressed that today, in a situation of external threats, the state and churches in Ukraine need partnerships for the common good of Orthodox citizens of Ukraine instead of confrontation.
