І. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada is a direct descendent of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by the Bishop Ioan Teodorovych, arriving from Ukraine in 1924, as well it is the inseparable component of the One Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in Ukraine under the jurisdiction of His Holiness the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine. 

1. The membership of The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada consists of individuals of the Orthodox Faith that are organized into PARISHES that voluntarily joined The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada. 

1. The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada has as its purpose exclusively the following:
1. To unite in brotherhood Orthodox Faithful of USA and Canada.          
2. To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to the Dogmas, Canons and Rituals of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
3. To supply material and moral aid to its members and those in need outside the Ukrainian Orthodox Community throughout the world that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
4. To cultivate and develop Orthodox Church and national cultural and community activities, and deepen the respect of the Deity and laws of the USA.

1. The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada shall conduct and direct its life in accordance with the following:

а) Decisions of the SOBORS and Holy SYNODS of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in Ukraine.
b) The Articles of this Constitution.

1. The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada is headed by a BISHOP that directly reports His Holiness, the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine in accordance with canons of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in Ukraine. In the event of the absence of the Bishop all responsibilities of the Bishop shall be transferred to His Holiness, the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in Ukraine.

1. The Executive Body of the Vicariate consists of a Bishop together with the General Meetings of all Parishes in the Vicariate and with the Bishop’s Council of the Vicariate.

1. No part of net earnings of the Vicariate shall insure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Vicariate shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in clause I.3, a,b,c,d above. No substantial part of the activities of the Vicariate shall be carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (including the publishing and distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the Vicariate shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

1. The ARTICLES OF THIS CONSTITUTION shall take effect as civil by-laws from the date of registration of this Constitution by the Government of the United States of America and Canada

ІІ. THE HIERARCH OF THE VICARIATE

1. The Hierarch of the Vicariate in the USA and Canada is under the canonical jurisdiction of His Holiness the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine as his Eparchial Hierarch.

1. The Bishop of the Vicariate, descendent from the Holy Apostles, is The Executor of all Parishes in the Vicariate with the “sobornopravnist”, i.e. participation of clergy and laity.

1. The candidate for the Bishop of the Vicariate is elected by the General Meetings of Parishes in the Vicariate and is approved by the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in Ukraine. Under the extraordinary circumstances, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in Ukraine can dismiss or transfer the Bishop of the Vicariate.

1. The Bishop of the Vicariate shall deal with matters pertaining to the Ecclesiastical judiciary of the Dogmas of Faith, Church Morals, executive, pastoral responsibilities and rituals.

1. The name of the Bishop of the Vicariate is mentioned during all Church Services in all parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada following the mention of His Holiness the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine.

1. With the blessing of the Kyivan Patriarch the Bishop of the Vicariate is a legal representative of the Vicariate in the USA and Canada in all matters pertaining to the Vicariate.

1. The Bishop of the Vicariate is the Executor, with agreement of the majority members of Bishop’s Council, of all financial and housekeeping matters.

1. The Bishop of the Vicariate individually appoints his secretary or his office manager.

ІІІ. MEETINGS OF THE VICARIATE of UOCKP in the USA and Canada

1. The Executive Body of the Vicariate consists of  Bishop of the Vicariate together with General Meeting of the Vicariate – that include representatives from both clergy and laity.

1. A General Meeting of the Vicariate is called, at least once every two years, by the Bishop of the Vicariate with the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch.

1. The duties of the General Meeting of the Vicariate include: election of members of the Bishop’s Council, the Controlling Commission, election of delegates to local SOBORS and all matters pertaining to the administration of individual parishes. All decisions are final by a majority vote.            

ІV. THE BISHOP’S COUNCIL

1. The Bishop’s Council is composed of nine elected individuals for a period of three years: four from the clergy and four from the laity and is chaired by the Bishop of the Vicariate.

1. The responsibilities of the Bishop’s Council include: preparation for the General Meeting of the Vicariate. Members of the Vicariate are notified one month ahead before the scheduled General Meeting of the Vicariate.  The Bishop’s Council decides on the membership of the individual parishes to the Vicariate, verifies reports of all the parishes, finances of the parishes, makes decisions on matters pertaining to the existence of the Vicariate.

1. The Bishop’s Council has the right to settle any disputes first, shall have the jurisdiction to investigate, settle and decide all cases brought to the attention of the Council, before the mentioned case is forwarded to the Church Court of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in Ukraine.

1. Members of the Bishop’s Council could be elected or appointed to other positions within the Vicariate.

1. The Bishop’s Council together with the Bishop could organize other commissions: housekeeping, cultural, educational and press.

1. His Holiness Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine approves all decisions made by the Bishop’s Council.

V. THE EXECUTIVE BODY OF THE VICARIATE

1. Bishop is the executor of the Vicariate. He has direct archpastoral influence on the clergy and laity, imposes sanctions against the trespassers of the church canons and initiates any legal matter before the Court of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in Ukraine.

1. The Executive  Body of the Vicariate consists of:                                                                           A. Secretary or office manager and an Organizational individual.                              B. Treasurer – elected by the Bishop’s Council

1. The Executive Body of the Vicariate executes the decisions of the Meetings of the Vicariate and executes directions of the Bishop of the Vicariate.

1. The Executive Body of the Vicariate, once a year, must report in writing their activities before the Bishop’s Council.

1. The Control Commission, which consists of no less than three persons, verifies and approves reports of the Executive Body of the Vicariate and the individual parishes.

1. The Executive Body of the Vicariate, once per month, must inform all members of the Vicariate on the activities of the Vicariate as well as activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in Ukraine.

1. The official media for disseminating information of church life is the Informational Bulletin of the Vicariate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada.

VІ. PARISHES

1. A Parish consists of unified and faithful members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada. The membership of a parish consists of both clergy and laity and it is under the canonical ruling of the Bishop of the Vicariate.

1. The activity of a parish is regulated by a parish Constitution that is consistent with Constitution of the Vicariate.

1. The Parish must be registered in their own State and must be accepted by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate.

1. The Parish wanting to join the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada must submit a written declaration to the Bishop of the Vicariate of its desire to be accepted into the Vicariate and accept the Constitution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in the United States of America and Canada and must be approved by His Holiness the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine on the recommendation by the Vicariate’s Bishop.

1. Parishes that are part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada must pay the annual assessment to the Vicariate according to the decision of the General Meeting of the Vicariate.

VІІ. THE CLERGY

1. . The responsibilities of the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of the Ukrainian Ortthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada are:                                                                                                                       A) To promote the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ                                     B) To render religious support to the assigned Parish                                    C) To promote the religious life of a parish in general  accordance 

                           with Canons of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate.                                                      

1. Only the clergy officially accepted into Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate are allowed to perform religious services and responsibilities assigned to a priest.

1. The Candidates for Priesthood and Diaconate are accepted and approved by the Bishop of the Vicariate only after their due diligence of their true beliefs of the orthodoxy, theological education and pastoral calling have been proven.

1. Upon request of a parish and on the recommendation of the Bishop of the Vicariate His Holiness the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine must approve the assignment of a priest to an individual parish.

1. Parishes in need of a priest must submit a written request to the Bishop of the Vicariate with detailed explanation of their financial responsibilities and conditions to support the requested priest.

VІІІ. THE RIGHTS OF THE EXECUTIVE BODY OF THE VICARIATE

1. The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of Kyivan Patriarchate in the USA and Canada has a seal in English language: Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of Kyivan Patriarchate of the USA and Canada; manages the finances of the Vicariate and performs other housekeeping duties. All financial papers must have the signature of the Vicariate’s Bishop and one signature of a member of Executive Body of the Vicariate. The seal and all official matter and documents are to be held in safekeeping by the Bishop of the Vicariate.

IX. CHANGES OF THE CONSTITUTION

1.   The individual chapters of this Constitution can be amended or changed in accordance with the decision of a General Meeting of the Vicariate by a majority vote.

1. Parishes wishing to propose changes to this Constitution must submit a written request detailing the changes three weeks before scheduled the General Meeting of the Vicariate.

X. THE PROPERTY OF THE PARISH

1. All personal property and real property belongs to the individual Parish of Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in the USA and Canada. The property shall never be transferred to any other corporation or any private individuals.

1. The liquidation of the Parish may be realized after the Special Meeting of the Parish that has been conducted in accordance with the Parish Constitution, and approved by His Holiness the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine.

1. All property after the liquidation of the Parish is turned over to Bishop’s Council of the Vicariate, and is titled as property of Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate with the approval by His Holiness the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine.

1. Upon the dissolution (liquidation) of the Vicariate, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the Vicariate is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purpose.

The contents of this Constitution were read and discussed during the General Meeting of the Vicariate held May 19, 2002 in the Parish hall of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, 5031 S.W. 100 Ave, Cooper City, Florida 33328.                                   After reading of this Constitution and following discussion the present membership of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate unanimously approved this Constitution.