Filaret clarifies conditions to welcome Pat. Bartholomew’s visit to Ukraine

Filaret Denisenko. Photo: zik.ua

The head of the Kyiv Patriarchate, Filaret Denisenko, said that the "clergy" of the UOC-KP would welcome Bartholomew as a guest in the Ukrainian land if he grants the status of patriarchy to the Ukrainian Church.

The corresponding statement was published on the official Facebook page of the head of the UOC-KP.

“In this regard, I want to assure that the episcopate, clergy and the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate will gladly once again welcome as a guest His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew in the Ukrainian land if during his visit he will hand over the Tomos on granting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church the status of patriarchy. This will be a long-awaited act of justice for the pious Ukrainian people and ensure the real autocephaly of our Church because, as you know, it is the Patriarchate that cannot be part of the Patriarchate while the Metropolis can,” Filaret said.

Filaret turned to the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky and representatives of the Ukrainian authorities with a request on the eve of the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew, which is to take place in August 2021 on the day of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, to put before the head of the Phanar the question of granting a new Tomos, which would “fully correspond to that historical place and significance that the Ukrainian Church has been played playing in world Orthodoxy."

“This will contribute to the real independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the consolidation of society and the unification of all Orthodox Ukrainians under one Patriarchal omophorion,” added the head of the UOC-KP.

As previously reported, the vicariate of the UOC-KP in the USA and Canada suggested that the OCU become “friends in Christ”.

Read also