Epiphany expects Phanar to grant OCU the status of patriarchate
The head of the OCU Epiphany. Photo: UNIAN
With joint efforts and with the blessing of the Phanar, the OCU will achieve the granting of patriarchate status, the head of the schismatic structure Epiphany Dumenko said in his greetings on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the "All-Ukrainian Council" of the UAOC.
“The All-Ukrainian Council of 1990 is one of the historical steps to the now fully authorized independence of our Orthodox Church,” the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church wrote on his Facebook page. “After centuries of spiritual captivity, centuries of continuous struggle for their Church, more than 700 delegates from all over Ukraine unanimously proclaimed: Let the Autocephalous Church in Ukraine be!”
He added that “with thanks to God, we recall the events of 30 years ago. After all, every believer of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is the co-creator of a great achievement – spiritual independence, finally approved by the Synod and Patriarchal Tomos", which would not have been possible without "unity based on the idea of autocephaly".
“I believe that just as in God’s blessed time, the Tomos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate authorized autocephaly, for which generations of Ukrainian Orthodox had fought, by joint efforts and with the blessing of the Mother Church, we will achieve the approval of the status of the Patriarchate for the OCU, whose idea is also connected with the mentioned Council,” Epiphanius emphasized.
As reported earlier, the Phanar hierarch called the OCU a “gift” from the Patriarchate of Constantinople to the people of Ukraine.
Read also
Shevchuk tells Budanov of UGCC’s “state-building role”
The head of the Uniates told the head of the Presidential Office that his Church was ready to partner with the state and presented him with a book on the work of special services in the Church.
Authorities decline to disclose Ukraine’s population size
The State Statistics Service acknowledged that it has up-to-date population estimates for the country, but has decided not to make them public.
Lithuanian govt vows to protect Orthodox Church from Russian intelligence
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has called for curbing the influence of Russian intelligence services on the Church, while an adviser to President Nausėda warned against labeling the entire structure a security threat.
During Ramadan, Patriarch Theodoros hosts Islamic iftar at his residence
Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria hosted a meal for Muslim workers breaking their fast in the courtyard of the Patriarchate and thanked a sheikh for his “brotherhood.”
Lawsuit filed against Patriarch of Constantinople
A Turkish official has accused Patriarch Bartholomew and dozens of clergy of “illegal activity” and violating the Treaty of Lausanne.
OCU cleric buried with Church Slavonic funeral shroud
In the Ternopil Eparchy of the OCU, a cleric was buried under a funeral shroud bearing inscriptions in Church Slavonic.