The Ukrainian Orthodox Church — Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) is very close to its recognition as an autocephalous church. This is to be done by special «Tomos» (or «decree» in secular terms) issued by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, whose residence is in Istanbul. What exact text will be in Tomos is still unknown. But many observers tend to think that Constantinople will restore the «Metropolia» (Metropolitan Archdiocese) in Kyiv that had disappeared centuries ago after Hetmanshchina (the State of Cossack Hetmanate) had been annexed by Russian state. Here is a very brief history of Ukrainian Church. Text by: Petro Bodnar, graphics by Nadya Kelm.