OCU’s "independence": Phanar hierarch said that Ukrainians are their flock

Patriarch Bartholomew and Epiphany Dumenko. Photo: riafan.ru

On November 6, 2020, a representative of the Phanar, addressing the “hierarchs” and “clergy” of the OCU, said that Ukrainians are an inseparable part of the flock of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, reports the Phanar's Facebook page.

After the “divine service” at the Church of St. Mary of Blachernae, the Phanar hierarch, addressing the former Metropolitan of the UOC Alexander (Drabinko) and other members of the OCU, said that “today, with the blessing of Patriarch Bartholomew, you performed a liturgy in Ukrainian for our spiritual children – Ukrainians, here, in Istanbul".

He stressed that “Ukraine and all co-religionists living in the City (Istanbul – Ed.) are the flock of the Patriarch of Constantinople. We do not separate you; the Mother Church takes care of this with pastoral love."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the head of the Phanar, Patriarch Bartholomew, said that the granting of the Tomos to the OCU "favourably affects the church life" of Ukraine.

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