ROCOR Primate: Seeking recognition for OCU, Phanar alienates all of us

Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York. Photo: religions.unian.net

Having legalized Ukrainian schismatics and seeking their recognition from the Local Churches, the head of the Phanar alienates not only those who are faithful to Holy Orthodoxy in Ukraine but all of us. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral), said this in an interview with the “Orthodox Life” portal.

The First Hierarch of ROCOR noted that with great grief and bewilderment he was watching the actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, in which, in his opinion, “one feels the influence of the mighty of this world and a disdainful attitude towards the truth about Orthodoxy in the Ukrainian land sacred for us”.

“It is also surprising that Constantinople lacks a pastoral approach to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine,” stated Metropolitan Hilarion. “After all, having ‘legalized’ the schismatics and in every possible way seeking their recognition from the Local Orthodox Churches, Patriarch Bartholomew actually alienates not only the overwhelming majority of our fellow archpastors, clergy, monastics, and believers of Ukraine, faithful to Holy Orthodoxy but all of us.”

According to him, it is not clear why the Phanar hastened with its sole decision, which it adopted without consulting other Local Orthodox Churches, and "the decision to abolish the three-hundred-year-old document with attempts to justify its invasion of the territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church looks at least ridiculous and irresponsible."

“Nevertheless, we are trying to pray for him and his circle so that the Lord will reason with them, enlighten and have mercy, while asking for heavenly help to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry and the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the only one of Christ and canonical on the territory of Ukraine,” stressed the Primate of the ROCOR.

In conclusion, Metropolitan Hilarion wished the believers of the UOC “such overcoming of all crises, which will raise them spiritually, renew all the forces of the People of God and open the eyes of others to the Truth of God”.

As reported, the ROCOR will publish a book about Phanar's interference in the affairs of Ukrainian Orthodoxy.

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