Patriarch Bartholomew: Autocephaly of OCU is an accomplished fact

The head of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople is Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: romfea.gr

“This year was especially important for the Mother-Church of Constantinople,” said Patriarch Bartholomew, the head of the Church of Constantinople, at the patronal festival of the temple in the Chalki Island. “Because initially we had God's blessing as the Ecumenical Patriarchate to grant the Tomos on Autocephaly to the sister Orthodox Church of Ukraine.” This was reported by the Greek site Romfea.

“No matter how it could be and can be disputed by some,” continued the Phanar’s, “this does not cease to be an accomplished ecclesiastic fact, recorded in the deltas of history, and our younger sister church was added to the host of autocephalous Orthodox Churches.”

In turn, Metropolitan Panteleimon, who was present at the celebrations, noted that “staying in the Church and obeying to the Christian bishop is better than any division” and emphasized that “the helm of the great Church is firmly held” by Patriarch Bartholomew.

As reported by the UOJ, the hierarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church believes that in the issue of recognizing autocephaly for the OCU, Phanar was under pressure of the United States and the Greek lobby.

Read also