Amsterdam: Destruction of UOC is US policy
Pompeo and Patriarch Bartholomew meeting at the Phanar. Photo: the website of the Phanar archons
American lawyer Robert Amsterdam said in an interview with Alexander Shelesta's YouTube channel that the processes to destroy the UOC were initiated by the US authorities back under the Trump presidency.
"We learned last week from Robert Destro, Assistant Secretary of State under Trump, that it was a US policy to destroy the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, to reduce its influence and role in Ukraine," Amsterdam said.
According to him, this explains the huge amount of black PR that has been spread about the Church.
Amsterdam says this was possible because of the position of Patriarch Bartholomew, who "has allowed himself to be an instrument of US policy." Asked how the head of the Phanar is viewed by Americans, the lawyer said, "Nobody in the US knows Patriarch Bartholomew, except for people in the State Department."
He claims that Pat. Bartholomew, then President Poroshenko and Secretary of State Pompeo negotiated the dramatic changes in the life of the Church in Ukraine.
"And they were criticized for it," Amsterdam said, stressing that the state should stay out of the Church, and such behavior is illegal for representatives of America and contrary to the Ukrainian Constitution.
As earlier reported, Amsterdam intends to meet in Kyiv with members of the UOC Synod and the government.
Read also
Ostapenko voices frustration over Upper Lavra court proceedings
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra case was postponed until September 29, a move that drew criticism from the head of the reserve.
Historic UOC church destroyed in shelling of frontline village of Horsk
St. Nicholas Church, built in 1908–1911, burned down after shelling on August 26.
UOC hierarch responds to critics of Holy Face banners at Pochaiv procession
Archbishop Jonah (Cherepanov) responded to critics who called a banner bearing the Holy Face of Christ a symbol of the Russian occupiers at the religious procession to Pochaiv.
Metropolitan Longin offers condolences to Sviatohirsk Lavra brethren
The abbot of the Bancheny Monastery called for prayers for the repose of the murdered Monk Varsonofiy and asked the Lord to strengthen the Sviatohirsk brethren.
Moldovan Church and Bessarabian Metropolis heads discuss paths for dialogue
Metropolitan Vladimir of the Moldovan Church and Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia met in Chișinău.
Court hearing in Upper Lavra case postponed
The court postponed consideration of the Upper Lavra case in Kyiv until September 29 due to procedural violations.