Exarch: Millions of Ukrainians have right to live traditions of Rus-Ukraine

Archbishop Daniel of the Western Eparchy of the UOC of the USA

Ukrainians have the right to live according to the sacred traditions of their fathers and mothers of the Kievan Rus-Ukraine, martyred by the religious and political regimes of the past, stated on his FB page the ruling bishop of the Western Eparchy of the UOC of the USA Archbishop Daniel (Zelinsky), a representative of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople. 

The Phanar exarch believes that millions of Ukrainians have the right for their own Local Orthodox Church and the future of the Church in Ukraine is destined: "We are living it already. The path to the Autocephaly is irreversible."

Against the background of the attempts "to interpret the Sacred Canons and history of the Church", the archbishop noted "the ministry of a true shepherd who cares for his flock" and is ready to "seek and return the one who is in wilderness": "In my opinion, at this particular time of history, the only individual who has exhibited the will imitate Christ and act with His intentions and through His teachings is His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew."

As reported by the UOJ, the Patriarchate of Constantinople appointed Archbishop Daniel of Pamphilon from the US and Bishop Hilarion from Canada as his exarchs in Kiev. The Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry refused to meet with the Phanar exarchs, since their appointment to Kiev is a gross interference in the internal affairs of the UOC and the violation of its canonical territory.

Read also