Phanar hierarch meets with Epiphany Dumenko and Eustratiy Zoria in Kiev

Metropolitan Emmanuel (right), Epiphany Dumenko (centre) and Eustratiy Zoria (left). Photo: “Romfea”

On September 25, 2019, Metropolitan Emmanuel of France visited Epiphany Dumenko in Kiev, reports “Romfea”. The meeting was attended by Eustratiy Zoria.

During the meeting, Metropolitan Emmanuel stated that "every church that has received autocephaly from the Mother Church of Constantinople has its own history and faces its own problems".

He emphasized that "they all have a memory and a proper church mind, and they do not forget that they were part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate".

However, the representative of the Patriarchate of Constantinople assured the head of the OCU that "these spiritual relations with the Mother Church remain inseparable and are undoubtedly love in Jesus Christ and not dependence or oppression."

In addition, Metropolitan Emanuel noted that the OCU "is currently experiencing difficulties that will be recorded in church history, which will emphasize the main heroes, but the problems will soon be overcome and remain in the past".

The Phanar hierarch also said that “all Church sisters pray for peace in Ukraine and fulfil the will of Christ and not the interests of the powers that be”.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to Filaret Denisenko, the so-called “Unification Council”, where the OCU was established, is illegitimate, and the originals of its documents are still in Istanbul.

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