Ex-ambassador: USA considers creation of OCU its achievement

A meeting of the US Secretary of State and the Head of the OCU in Kyiv, 6.05.2021. Photo: Epiphany Facebook page

In the United States, the creation of the OCU is considered their achievement. Former Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Valeriy Chaly said this on the air of the “Priamyi” TV channel, reports the channel's website.

“The American side ... Incidentally, this may not be known in the Office of the President. In the past period, the key foreign policy theme was freedom of religion. And the issue of the autonomous church was promoted by Ukraine with the support of our partners. The United States did – I can say this now – a lot to make this issue a reality for Ukraine. This is a huge achievement, which they consider theirs as well. Maybe this is exaggerated, but there are such sentiments,” Chaly said.

AS reported, on May 6, Kyiv hosted a meeting between the head of the OCU Epiphany and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Ukraine on a two-day visit. Meetings with representatives of other religious organizations in Ukraine were not provided for in the official programme of Blinken's visit. According to the experts, this is a sign of unconditional support for the OCU from the United States and a signal to the Ukrainian authorities.

Read also

Zelensky tells Patriarch Bartholomew about power outage problems

The president spoke about humanitarian difficulties in Ukraine related to the energy situation.

Metropolitan Nafanail consecrates iconostasis in temporary church in Lutsk

On the feast day of St. Spyridon of Trimythous, a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over the parish’s patronal celebration.

Pat Daniel awards Pat Bartholomew with order for overcoming schism in BOC

The award was bestowed for organizing the 1998 Council, which conciliar-ly resolved the crisis caused by the schism in the Bulgarian Church.

Persecuted UOC parish in Chernivtsi celebrates its feast day

A festive divine service in honor of St. Spyridon of Trimythous was held in a parish that remains faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church despite attempts to seize the church.

Bulgarian Church Primate arrives in Istanbul

The first official visit of Patriarch Daniel to the Phanar has begun.

Political expert: Declaring January 7 as Programmer’s Day resembles mockery

Kostiantyn Bondarenko commented on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to designate a new professional holiday on the day when Christmas is celebrated.