Zoria: I have been in contact with Phanariots since 2008
Spokesman of the OCU Eustratiy Zoria. Photo: video screenshot of the DetectorUA Youtube channel
"Archbishop" of the OCU Ivan (Eustratiy) Zoria spoke on the propagandist Youtube channel DetectorUA about contacts with representatives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople long before the anti-canonical act of Patriarch Bartholomew, who issued a tomos to Ukrainian schismatics.
The OCU spokesman said that his contacts with the Phanariots began back in 2008, when he was a member of the Kyiv Patriarchate under Filaret Denisenko. “I have known the main actors of the Ecumenical Patriarchate who took and are taking part in its life since 2008. I began to travel to Istanbul as part of the delegation of the Kyiv Patriarchate more or less regularly from 2011,” Zoria said.
He also said that a personal acquaintance with Patriarch Bartholomew took place during the tomos issue. “I met the Patriarch when the Tomos was presented, but according to him, I understood that he had heard about me,” Zoria noted.
As the UOJ reported, Zoria said that but for Phanar's efforts, other Churches wouldn’t have recognized the OCU.
Read also
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.
Congress Speaker: Demand to introduce Sharia law in USA is a serious problem
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that there is growing concern in society about attempts to impose Islamic law, which is incompatible with the American Constitution.
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".