RF MFA: Creation of OCU was dictated to Patriarch Bartholomew by USA
Sergei Lavrov. Photo: ria.ru
On July 24, 2021, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov, said that the creation of the OCU was not initiated by Patriarch Bartholomew but was dictated by the United States, reports RIA Novosti.
According to the head of the Foreign Office, the creation of the OCU was presented as "a movement for every Orthodox people to have the right to choose." But, the official says, "this is not just an initiative of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople".
“It is directly dictated by the United States. By and large, they do not hide it. The Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, appointed during the last US administration, did things that were exactly the opposite to his mandate: he undermined religious freedom by imposing organizational parameters (in bureaucratic terms) on various Local Churches,” Lavrov stressed.
According to him, the Envoy for Freedom of Religion was destroying the unity of the Orthodox of Russia and Ukraine, creating in Ukraine "a schismatic, powerless (in fact) church".
He was also destroying the unity of the Antiochian Church, “trying to tear the Lebanese Orthodox Christians away from it,” and “the same is happening with respect to the canonical territory of the Serbian Orthodox Church”, added the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
According to Sergei Lavrov, Washington directly manipulates the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Read also
"Stigmatization based on faith": DESS reprimands TSN for story about Muslims
DESS criticized TSN because "the investigation in the "1+1" news story immediately took on an accusatory bias, and the accused themselves were not given a voice."
His Beatitude Onuphry: Through fasting, man returns to Paradise
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry reminded the faithful about Adam's fall and urged them to repent before Great Lent.
Archbishop of Greece speaks about his successor and the Church's future
On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of his leadership of the Greek Church, the Primate gave an interview in which he spoke about relations with the state, the situation in Sinai, and the challenges of the modern world.
In Barcelona, Sagrada Familia’s central tower completed after 144 years
In Barcelona, a glass cross was installed on the Sagrada Familia temple, completing the central tower and bringing the building to the height of 172.5 meters.
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Onuphry celebrates Liturgy at Lavra
During Cheesefare Week, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Liturgy at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, addressed the flock with a sermon, and offered prayers for peace and the preservation of Ukraine's people.
In Hnidyn, St. Nicholas Church of UOC damaged by shelling
As a result of shelling, the St. Nicholas Church of the UOC in the village of Hnidyn of the Boryspil Eparchy was damaged.