Metropolitan Anthony: Each OCU parish must pay the Phanar at least €4,000

Metropolitan Emmanuel of Gaul and OCU head Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: lb.ua

On July 9, 2019, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary, Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, said in an interview with journalists of the Radar program on the NewsOne television channel that, after unsuccessful attempts to obtain ownership of Ukrainian holy sites, Constantinople imposed a “Tomos tax” on every parish of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

According to him, representatives of Patriarch Bartholomew sought to establish contact with President Volodymyr Zelensky and determine whether he was prepared to honor agreements allegedly reached with former President Petro Poroshenko regarding the transfer of a number of Ukrainian churches and monasteries to the Phanar.

“That meeting did not succeed,” Metropolitan Anthony said. “When it failed, Emmanuel (Metropolitan Emmanuel of Gaul – Ed.) presented Epifaniy with a bill.”

According to the hierarch, after failing to secure ownership of Ukrainian shrines, Constantinople decided to replenish its treasury in another way: every OCU parish would now have to pay for the Tomos. The amount ranged from €4,000 to €20,000.

“They calculated how many parishes would join the OCU through the unification of the UAOC and the Kyiv Patriarchate, and imposed a ‘tax’ on each parish. The smallest amount was €4,000, the largest €20,000. That was for every parish. The bill was then handed to Epifaniy. After that, Filaret began raising a fuss,” the metropolitan said.

Reports of this alleged “tribute” to the Phanar have also come from OCU clergy themselves.

“They told us that 28 million had to be paid, that this money had to be transferred to Constantinople,” one OCU “priest” said.

Journalists noted that the newly created church declined to comment on the information.

As the UOJ previously reported, Rostyslav Kravets, a member of the Kyiv City Bar Council, explained that regardless of any memorandums or agreements signed between Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the Phanar would not be able to obtain the promised architectural monuments through legal means.

“The current legislation does not provide for the transfer or sale of cultural heritage sites that are of national significance and are state property,” the lawyer stated.

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