Filaret: I trusted Poroshenko and Epifaniy, and they deceived me
Filaret believes that Epifaniy and Poroshenko deceived him. Photo from open sources
Petro Poroshenko and Filaret deceived Filaret. The injured party revealed this at a press conference held on May 15, 2019, at the headquarters of the Kyiv Patriarchate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC-KP).
“There were agreements between me and the President, and with Epifaniy as well. And not only between the three of us, but also with the hierarchs,” Filaret said. “And at the Hierarchical Council, the same agreement was in place: that I would continue to manage the Church within Ukraine together with Epifaniy, while he would represent the Church in external relations. That was the agreement.”
Filaret emphasized that the agreement was gentlemen’s and was not documented, as he trusted his partners. However, as it turned out, it was in vain: “We did not sign this agreement because I had confidence in them. I trusted the President, and I trusted Epifaniy. And they deceived me.”
Filaret also mentioned that Epifaniy became the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) solely due to his efforts: “I trusted him one hundred percent. If I had not nominated him at the Council (the Unification Council – ed.), he would not have become the head.”
Read also
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.
Archimandrite Ioustinos, longtime keeper of Jacob's Well, dies in Jordan
Archimandrite Ioustinos (Mamallos), the keeper of Jacob's Well in Nablus, has died after a prolonged illness.
Pilgrim group from Kyiv Theological Seminary visits Mount Athos
KTS students are making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Romania, Greece, Mount Athos and Italy.
UOC cathedral celebrates its patronal feast in Ternopil
The service in the cathedral of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia was led by Metropolitan Serhii of Ternopil, concelebrated by four hierarchs.
MinCulture marks centenary of Soviet-era reserve at Lavra's Refectory Church
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture presented awards to the Reserve's employees on the occasion of the anniversary at the Refectory Church of the Lavra.
Conference to mark 1700th anniversary of Christianity adoption held in Georgia
In Georgia, representatives of the Church and the state noted the defining role of Christianity in the country's cultural development.