Candidates for the diaconate or priesthood seeking to enter or to transfer into the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America from another jurisdiction and/or Christian community (e.g. Protestant, Episcopal Church, etc.) or those requesting additional information should contact:

For the United States for the Archdiocese of the United States and Canada and for the Archdiocese of Ukraine:
His Beatitude Metropolitan Ioan
vladykaioan@aol.com

For the Archdiocese of Ecuador, Central and South America:
His Excellency Archbishop Chrysostomos
iglesiaortodoxa@gmail.com

For the Diocese of Ville-Marie, Canada:
His Grace Bishop Gabriel
vladyka_gabriel@mts.net

Candidates for the Holy Diaconate and/or Holy Priesthood who are not in Major Orders must:
1. Complete a full course of theological studies at either an accredited theological faculty in the area in
    in which they are currently living or through distance learning at a theological faculty approved by
    the Archbishop of the United States, the Locum Tenens of Ukraine and the Locum Tenens of Canada.
2. Show their ability to form, cultivate and sustain an active ministry and to support themselves.
3. Familiarize themselves with the Hierarchs and Clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America
    and actively participate in the Synods and Clergy Conferences of our jurisdiction.

Candidates who are in Major Orders or who have completed theological studies must:
1. Obtain a written release from the Hierarch in whose jurisdiction they are currently incardinated.
2. Agree to a probationary period of three years during which time the Candidate, Hierarchy and Clergy of
    our jurisdiction can get to know each other and form strong and stable fraternal bonds.
3. During this period of probation, the Candidate must actively participate in the Synods and Clergy
    Conferences of our jurisdiction.
4. Satisfy any deficiencies in his theological and/or liturgical formation.
5. Show his ability to form, cultivate and sustain an active ministry and to support himself.
6. Understand that any regularization of ordination or future ordination will not, under any circumstances,
    be agreed to unless a satisfactory probationary period (three years minimum) has been completed and
    requirements, as listed above, have been satisfactorily fulfilled.

Mandatory Documentation to be presented along with the Application for Incardination:
1. Certificate(s) of Baptism and Chrismation.
2. Certified copies of academic transcripts from all colleges, universities and/or seminaries attended.
3. If married, a certified copy of the Applicantʼs Marriage Certificate of a sacramental Orthodox marriage.
4. If married, a notarized statement from the Applicantʼs spouse supporting his admission to Holy Orders.
5. Official Criminal Background Check/Clearance (at Candidateʼs expense).
6. A psychological assessment submitted by a licensed psychologist directly to the Archbishop.
7. A recommendation from three employers submitted directly to the Archbishop.
8. A recommendation from the Candidateʼs Spiritual Father submitted directly to the Archbishop/Bishop.
9. A letter detailing the Candidateʼs spiritual journey and reasons for applying to the UOCA.

Seminarians shall be under the direct supervision of and answerable to the Archbishops and/or Bishops of their respective Dioceses as listed in the directory above.

*Primary consideration for seminary/theological formation shall be given to the candidate pursuing his theological formation at our seminary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America in Quito, Ecuador as well as the Theological Institute of L'viv, Ukraine and the Ternopil' Theological Institute, Ternopil', Ukraine.

Affirming and, once again, promulgating the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of October, 2008, the following directive is issued, effective immediately, in order to safeguard the dignity of each Holy Order as well as the reputation of our blessed jurisdiction, before ordination to the Diaconate and Priesthood of any and all candidates. These prescriptions are to be strictly adhered to without exception by all Archbishops and Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America having jurisdiction in the States of Ukraine and Russia:

Before being ordained to the Minor Order of Reader and to all subsequent Holy  Orders, the candidate:
a. must have been a member of our jurisdiction for a period of no less than six (6) months and
b. must have been recommended, in writing, to the competent Hierarch by both his spiritual father and by the pastor of his local parish.

Before being ordained to the Minor Order of Subdeacon,
a. the candidate must have been a member of our jurisdiction for a period of at least six (6) months and
b. must have passed a minimum of six (6) months after having been tonsured a  Reader,
c. must have actively exercised his ministry as Reader in a parish under the supervision of a priest assigned to monitor him by his Bishop.

Before being recommended to be ordained to the Major Order of Deacon,
a. the candidate must have undergone a psychological profile and testing by a licensed psychologist, and the results of these psychological profiles are to be sent to the Metropolitan Prime Bishop within ten (10) days of being received by the local Archbishop/Bishop;
b. it is only after a licensed psychologist has attested to the mental and emotional health of the candidate that the Bishop may advance the candidate to the Major Order of Deacon.

Before being recommended to be ordained to the Major Order of the Holy Diaconate,
a. the candidate must have passed a minimum of six (6) to twelve (12) months after having been ordained a Subdeacon,
b. have successfully passed the required psychological testing,
c. have completed a minimum of three (3) years of theological training and
d. must have actively exercised his previous ministry as Subdeacon in a parish under the supervision of a priest assigned to supervise him by his Bishop.

Before being recommended to be ordained to the Major Order of the Holy Priesthood,
a. the candidate must have passed a period of no less than six (6) to twelve (12) months after having been ordained a Deacon,
b. have completed a minimum of four (4) years of theological training and
c. must have actively exercised his ministry as Deacon in a parish under the supervision of a priest assigned to monitor him by his Bishop.

If the candidate to Holy Orders is married, the written consent of his wife must be secured in writing by the local Hierarch prior to his ordination and must be retained in the candidate’s personnel file in the archives of his Archeparchy/Eparchy.