Poroshenko says "hierarchs" urged him "not to trust Byzantium"

Poroshenko during the Tomos-signing ceremony. Photo: BBC News Ukraine

A lot of "hierarchs of our churches" urged not to trust Byzantium on the issue of Tomos on autocephaly, said the leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko on the air of Channel 5.

The ex-president of Ukraine explained that he was the one who managed to get the Tomos for the OCU by saying that "he had dreamed and prayed about it very much."

“As a believer, I can say absolutely for sure: without God's help and without God's will, nothing would have happened,” he said.

In addition, according to him, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople "loved Ukraine very much and had confidence in me."

He also noted the help of the parliamentarians, who supported his petition to the head of Phanar, because "without this position, nothing would have happened either."

“Although a large number of hierarchs of our churches, who sincerely strove for this (receipt of the Tomos – Ed.) to happen, told me: 'Do not trust Byzantium, you are going to sacrifice everything on the altar of the Tomos – all your authority, all your life. Be prepared that you won't get the Tomos.' Well, if you do not believe in victory and do not believe in God, then nothing will happen for sure,” Petro Poroshenko said.

We will remind, earlier Poroshenko said that the recognition of the Tomos "is being recognized across the globe".

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