Greek media: Many Greek hierarchs reject the OCU

Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece and head of the OCU Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: OCU

On March 19, 2024, an article was published in the Greek church publication vimaorthodoxias.gr, in which the author analyzed the attitude of the Greek Orthodox Church towards the Ukrainian church issue. According to his observation, although the Greek Church officially recognized the OCU, many Greek hierarchs continue to consider this organization schismatic and avoid serving with its representatives.

"Ukrainian autocephaly continues to divide the Orthodox world! As for the Greek Church, which has recognized it, it resembles a bill on same-sex couples imposed by foreign centers on Greek political parties in power, not the government," said the author of the publication, citing an authoritative source among the hierarchy of the Greek Church.

According to the author, a Greek hierarch emphasized that "this is exactly what happened with the Church of Greece, where practically and consciously many metropolitans do not deem the schismatics of Ukraine as the official Orthodox Church."

A source from the publication reported that a number of hierarchs of the Greek Church have serious doubts about whether recognizing the OCU was correct at all.

"The Greek Church may have recognized the autocephalous church of Ukraine, but behind the scenes there are strong doubts about whether they did the right thing and are on the right side of history. It is the case when external factors played a decisive role in this recognition by the Greek Church for the sake of achieving geostrategic goals," the source concluded.

As reported by the UOJ, the head of the Polish Church mentioned persecution of the UOC in his message.

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