ROC rep: Pat Bartholomew promised not to interfere in Ukraine and deceived
Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev). Photo: news.ru
On January 26, 2021, the chairman of the ROC DECR, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk, in an exclusive interview with the Greek edition “Romfea”, said that shortly before the Council of Crete held in 2016, Patriarch Bartholomew promised not to interfere in the religious situation in Ukraine but did not keep his promise.
According to Metropolitan Hilarion, “in 2016 at the Synaxis of the Primates in Chambesy, Patriarch Bartholomew publicly, in front of all delegations of the Local Churches, said: “We recognize Metropolitan Onuphry and greet him as the only canonical hierarch of our Orthodox Church in Ukraine, together with holy bishops under him’".
Metropolitan Hilarion especially emphasized that “Patriarch Bartholomew also promised not to interfere in church affairs in Ukraine either before or after the Council. We believed these words. We thought: since the Ecumenical Patriarch says so, let us really, as he promises us, hold a Council, and after that, we will continue to discuss the topic of autocephaly. We shouldn’t have trusted him, he deceived us. That was our big mistake,” resumed Metropolitan Hilarion.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the head of the DECR MP said that the schism in Orthodoxy was inspired by the US authorities.
Read also
Ultra-Orthodox Jews paralyze traffic in Israel over arrest of draft evaders
Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators blocked highways and railway tracks, demanding an end to the arrest of those refusing military service.
Patronal feast celebrated at Kherson cathedral damaged by shelling
Because of damage caused by Russian shelling, the festal Liturgy on the Day of the Holy Spirit was celebrated for the first time in the lower church of the Kherson Eparchy’s cathedral.
Kremenchuk Eparchy comments on situation around Holy Trinity Cathedral
The UOC emphasized that any disputes regarding the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kremenchuk should be resolved exclusively within the legal framework.
4,000 faithful celebrate patronal feast of Holy Spirit Skete of Pochaiv Lavra
The celebration of the Day of the Holy Spirit brought together pilgrims from across Ukraine at the skete of Pochaiv Lavra.
OCU supporters prepare to seize UOC church in Kolonshchyna
In a village in Kyiv Region, OCU supporters held what parishioners describe as an unlawful meeting to “transfer” a UOC parish, despite the religious community having already reaffirmed its loyalty to its Church.
His Beatitude officiates at Liturgy in Kyiv on Day of the Holy Spirit
At the church complex dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” in Kyiv, the Primate of the UOC celebrated the festal Liturgy and offered prayers for peace in Ukraine.