Zoria explains why OCU is unwilling to repent to Filaret

Filaret Denisenko and Eustratiy Zoria. Photo: bbc.com

"Patriarch" Filaret cannot accuse the "hierarchs" of the OCU of violating their oath, as he is an oath-breaker himself, said the spokesman of the OCU Ivan (Eustratiy) Zoria on his Facebook page.

The spokesman of the OCU commented on the "Appeal to violators of the hierarch's oath", published on the website of the UOC-KP on February 4. The latest publications on the website of the Kyiv Patriarchate "can illustrate a split personality," Zoria said.

The "hierarch" of the OCU pointed out the discrepancy between Filaret's address "to violators of the hierarch's oath" and the 59th anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Denisenko himself, during which he swore allegiance to the Moscow Patriarchate and the Holy Synod of the ROC.

Zoria was surprised that Filaret considered his violation of allegiance in 1992 to be correct, but at the same time blamed the "hierarchs" of the OCU for refusing to obey him in 2019.

Orthodox ecclesiology does not allow for having two heads in one Local Church, the spokesman of the OCU recalled. Therefore, after the election of Dumenko, Filaret lost his powers.

The "archbishop" of the OCU stated that Denisenko "is in a state of opposition to the Primate and the Council of Bishops of the UOC." The rebellious "patriarch" belongs to the OCU, "even if he is reluctant to admit it," Zoria said.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote the UOC-KP accused Zoria of disseminating fakes about Filaret's health.

Read also

Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million

Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.

DESS official says state should not govern the Church

A DESS official called for cooperation between the state and the Church for the benefit of citizens.

Poltava court upholds mobilization of Protestant pastor

A court in the Poltava region ruled that a prior criminal conviction and religious beliefs do not exempt a person from military service.

Ostapenko: Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra would not exist without Soviet-era reserve

The reserve director spoke about the Soviet museum’s role in saving the monastery, while stressing the need to rethink its history.

Metropolitan Anthony criticizes DESS order on Boryspil Eparchy

The UOC chancellor rejected officials’ findings, pointing to procedural violations in the DESS review.

Two more parishes in Sloviansk reregistered under OCU

The organizer behind the transfer of UOC communities in Sloviansk said the reregistration of churches would continue.