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
Politician criticizes OCU cleric for "special support" of TRC
Vitaliy Kupriy commented on a sermon by an OCU cleric, where the latter called draft evasion a sin and urged to "reason with" such people through denunciations.
Armenian Church to hold council in Austria despite government obstacles
The Episcopal Council of the Armenian Church will take place in St. Pölten, even though a number of bishops have been banned from leaving the country and several hierarchs remain in custody.
Moldovan Metropolis bishop and faithful blocked inside a church in Moldova
Police blocked access to a church in the village of Dereneu, where Archbishop Petru of the Moldovan Church and parishioners were inside.
Phanar explains why it recognized UAOC ordinations involving impostor bishop
The Phanar compared the participation of the self-proclaimed "bishop" in the UAOC ordinations to zero in mathematics: whether you multiply by zero or divide by zero, the result is still one.
Pashinyan compares Armenian Church clergy to Islamists
The Armenian prime minister said in an interview that radical political sermons are being delivered in Armenian churches.
Turkish and Greek leaders to discuss religious agenda with Pat. Bartholomew
The President of Turkey and the Prime Minister of Greece will hold a meeting and official dinner with Patriarch Bartholomew in Ankara.