Poroshenko meets with Exarchs of Phanar on their return to Ukraine

Exarchs of the Church of Constantinople

On October 16, 2018, Petro Poroshenko met with the Exarchs of the Constantinople Patriarchate on their return to Kiev. The video from the meeting was published on the official page of the President on Facebook.

“We have returned to extend the work on the last stage – preparation for the Unification Council, and then – granting the Tomos to the primate,” said the Phanar’s representatives.

According to the Exarchs, the unification of the Orthodox Churches of Ukraine is possible since the Synod of the Constantinople Patriarchate has lifted the sanctions against the leaders of the UAOC and the UOC KP.

“Now they are returned into their dignity, and with them – the clergy. Therefore, if there are questions about the uncanonical nature of their sacraments, the Ecumenical Patriarchate answered that they are now canonical,” said Archbishop Daniel of Pamphilon and Western Eparchy of the UOC in the USA.

In turn, Poroshenko commented on the decision of the Russian Orthodox Church to break off relations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

“Such a reaction only confirms that we are on the right track. The Russian Church has now set itself on the path of self-isolation and conflict with world Orthodoxy,” Poroshenko said.

As the UOJ reported, on October 15, 2018, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church recognized any further Eucharistic communion with the Constantinople Patriarchate as no longer possible. The ROC also stated that the attempt of the Constantinople Patriarchate to decide the fate of the UOC without its consent is an anticanonical encroachment.

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