Poroshenko's channel accuses Constantinople of bribe-taking

Vitaly Gaidukevich said that the independent Kiev Church was established 1,030 years ago

"The Church annexation of Ukraine by Moscow," formally legalized by Constantinople, according to the TV presenter Vitaly Gaidukevich, happened during the "Cossack times". He stated this on the air of the programme "Chas. Pidzumky tyzhnia" on April 22.

According to him, the "annexation" mechanism was as follows: "Who they needed from the Cossack elite were just bought or mislead. For the legalization of the takeover, Constantinople relied on the sinfulness of the local hierarchs, the so-called "bribe with sables".

"The independence of the Ukrainian Church was almost ended, because Constantinople handed over the church affairs for a bribe under Moscow's temporary care until the Ecumenical Patriarchate solved its own problems," the journalist explained his point of view.

He also said that the independent Kiev Church was established 1,030 years ago.

Earlier, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk stated that the Patriarchate of Constantinople could not unilaterally declare the autocephaly of the SLC, despite the "rich gifts" that President Poroshenko bestowed upon Patriarch Bartholomew during his last visit to Turkey.

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