UOC-KP states they do not recognize Phanar’s primacy in Orthodoxy

Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: tovima

The Patriarchate of Constantinople has never been the dominant Church in the Orthodox world and the “ecumenical” status of Patriarch Bartholomew is only a virtual image, the European Dean’s Office of the UOC-KP said on its Facebook page.

The message says that although the word "ecumenical" in the title gives the impression of the Church, which is the representative of all Orthodox in relations with other Christian denominations, this is not actually the case. At the same time, some in Ukraine perceive this as the actual status of the Church over all Churches.

“And in Ukraine, it sounds like it's a Church above all Churches. But such a local Orthodox Church has never existed, it is a kind of virtual image that, as it were, should communicate with other Christians on behalf of all Orthodox (eocumene – all), provided that such powers are granted, but actually they are not,” says the message of the Dean's Office of the UOC-KP. The concept of "first among equals" has a special historical basis, but at the same time there has never been one local Church that reigned over others. So, we do not deal with the ‘Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople’ but with the Constantinople one."

As reported, Filaret said that the transfer of the UOC-KP communities in the USA to Dumenko is prohibited by the Tomos.

Read also