Expert: Fanar head’s visit to Ukraine – invasion of UOC canonical territory
Religious observer Alexei Smirnov. Photo: a screenshot of the Youtube channel “Pershy Nezalezhny”
Religious observer Alexei Smirnov, during a live broadcast on the Pershy Nezalezhny channel, said that the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to Ukraine without the invitation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is an invasion of the canonical territory of the UOC.
“This is an invasion of canonical church territory of others because according to church rules, a hierarch of another Local Church if he wants to come to Ukraine, must coordinate his visit with the canonical church authorities in Ukraine. This did not happen, therefore, this is an unfriendly, aggressive step on the part of the Patriarchate of Constantinople,” noted Alexei Smirnov.
According to him, the leadership of the OCU does not conceal hopes that with the arrival of Patriarch Bartholomew, "transfers" of communities from the UOC to the OCU will be resumed.
“In practice, this is the seizure of churches, the exacerbation of inter-faith conflicts. They (the OCU – Ed.) talked about the second wave of transitions. If it looks the same as the first wave (first half of 2019 – Ed.), we will see the seizures of churches, the beating of believers and other forms of discrimination against UOC believers,” the expert added.
Read also
UOC's Social Department reports on aid provided during 1000 days of war
Millions of hryvnias in financial aid and hundreds of tons of humanitarian assistance were provided during this period.
On 1000th day of war, UOC opens exhibition dedicated to Church's mission
Before the exhibition's opening, a memorial service was held for those who perished and died during the war, as well as a prayer service for AFU soldiers and for Ukraine.
Zelensky on the Church: The era of those who sanctify terror is over
The President stated that in Ukraine, there is dialogue between the state and all religious communities.
Satanic show to be held in Prague as a counter to St. Nicholas feast
Terrifying creatures will scare children instead of giving them gifts.
Papal Nuncio in Kyiv: War is from the devil, it makes no sense
Visvaldas Kulbokas believes the Church's mission is to call for the urgent need to end the war.