Phanar is ready to listen to the UOC but within canonical tradition

Head of Phanar at the "divine service" of the OCU in Kyiv. Photo: Facebook of the Patriarchate of Constantinople

Patriarch Bartholomew made a long speech at the “divine service” of the OCU, in which, among other things, he called on the hierarchs, clergy and believers of the UOC “to promote peaceful coexistence,” and said that he was ready to “listen to problems and dispel doubts,” but within the framework of the canonical tradition. The event was broadcast by UA-Pershy.

Addressing Sergei Dumenko, Patriarch Bartholomew said, "The existence and structure of the church you lead is a given, and any doubts are in vain and useless." After this phrase, the head of Phanar addressed the UOC with a speech.

“We invite in this sacred time and call wholeheartedly the brothers in Christ, the hierarchs in this country, their clergy and believers, who do not have church communion with us, to reconsider their position and to foster peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding between people and Orthodox Christians here, sharing love for identity, for the sake of reconciliation and the establishment of tolerance we all need,” said the head of Phanar. “As a mother church, we are always ready to listen to problems, dispel doubts, soothe anxiety, heal injuries of all our children with the grace of God, but within the framework of a consecrated church tradition. We firmly believe that the mercy of our Savior Jesus Christ will forever extend generously over all of us, and we will rejoice in the tangible fruits of the Holy Spirit."

We will remind you that the believers of the UOC requested Patriarch Bartholomew to meet at the Verkhovna Rada on August 21, which was officially announced to him in a letter. For several hours of prayerful standing, the laity and clergy of the Church were waiting for the head of Phanar at the parliament building to tell what his actions in Ukraine had led to. Nevertheless, Patriarch Bartholomew chose to get to the Rada in a motorcade through the courtyard, similarly he left the Parliament after meeting with speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Dmitry Razumkov.

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