Phanar reminds Dumenko that he can "settle questions" only in Ukraine

Patriarch Bartholomew and Epiphany Dumenko. Photo: cyplive.com

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, in his congratulatory message on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, reminded Epiphany Dumenko that the OCU can operate only within the state border of Ukraine.

On July 28, 2021, the message on behalf of Patriarch Bartholomew was read by Metropolitan Emmanuel (Adamakis) of Chalcedon at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv.

The Phanar head said that he is planning his visit to Kyiv in August this year, "to see in close proximity how the devout Orthodox Ukrainian people are blessed and consecrated, communing with the Body of the Lord, without divisions and painful states of the recent past".

According to Patriarch Bartholomew, "all believers in Christ in Ukraine are the fruit of the many-fruit vineyard of the Mother Church of Constantinople".

The head of the Phanar believes that such a "connection" with the Patriarchate of Constantinople is "vital" and "spiritual".

He assured that there is no desire on his part to “control and manipulate the internal life of the Church of Ukraine” but recalled that the OCU can “maturely, responsibly, reasonably and prudently resolve issues of daily church life only “within the state borders of Ukraine”.

“This administrative independence in no way means that we do not care or give up the heavy spiritual responsibility that we took upon ourselves when we brought faith and enlightenment to your ancestors. We feel this strong spiritual connection, and we are greatly interested in the development by God's grace of all our children throughout the universe,” wrote the head of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

As reported earlier, Filaret Denisenko believes the purpose of the visit of the Phanar head is to emphasize the dependence of the OCU.

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