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

In Kharkiv region, drafters detain UOC cleric of Izium Eparchy

The priest was held for more than 72 hours, then without explanation was taken to a military unit – there is practically no contact with his family.

His Beatitude: Theophany water drives away demons' dark force from man

In his sermon before the rite of the Great Blessing of Water, the Primate of the UOC highlighted the significance of repentance and the power of holy water.

Nun from Cherkasy monastery about raiders: They had completely wild eyes

Nun Nanna gave testimony in the Cherkasy court about the events of November 20, 2023 – the day of the violent seizure of the Nativity of the Virgin Monastery.

In Dnipro, TRC detains UOC priest to send him to front

A priest of the Dnipropetrovsk Eparchy of the UOC is being held at a distribution center; believers are urged to support him with prayer.

Report: Number of Christians in Europe declines by 17 mln over past five years

A new report on the state of Christianity in Europe has recorded a decline in the number of Christian believers amid the weakening role of the church and migration processes.

Armenia to build the world's tallest statue of Jesus on Mount Hatis

The world's tallest statue of Jesus, standing 77 meters high, is being erected near Yerevan as a future pilgrimage center and a symbol of faith.