Patriarch Kirill comments on Phanar head’s visit to Ukraine
Patriarch Kirill during a divine service on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. Photo: vologda-mitropolia.ru
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ called the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew to Ukraine sinful and inexplicable, reports ria.ru.
“May the Most Holy Theotokos help to preserve the unity of the Orthodox Churches, torn apart by evil forces today. And we know what is happening today in Ecumenical Orthodoxy, how these forces, taking advantage of the difficult situation that has developed in Ukraine, are trying to break the unity of the Orthodox Church. And they succeed in something: an example of this is the sinful and inexplicable visit of the Patriarch of Constantinople to Kiev and his concelebration with schismatics,” said Patriarch Kirill in his sermon on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.
Patriarch Bartholomew visited Ukraine from August 20 to 24, taking part in the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the country's independence. During the visit, he concelebrated with the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko at the St. Sophia of Kiev, met with the country's President Vladimir Zelensky, Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal and Parliament Speaker Dmitry Razumkov.
Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to Ukraine caused a protest among the UOC believers, who on August 21 came to the Verkhovna Rada to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew and express their disagreement with the Tomos bestowal, but Patriarch Bartholomew did not come out to them.
As reported, the expert said that the Phanar head’s visit increases the probability of an OCU-UGCC alliance.
Read also
TRC abducts cleric of Bancheny Monastery but releases him after believers' rally
Hundreds of believers gathered at the gates of the TRC in Chernivtsi. Military commissars released the abducted archimandrite of the Bancheny Monastery.
Persecuted UOC parishes in Bukovyna celebrate Sunday of Myrrh-Bearing Women
UOC communities deprived of their churches held services for the feast of the Myrrh-Bearing Women.
UOC donates equipment worth UAH 200,000 to Okhmatdyt
The Odesa Eparchy of the UOC has completed a large-scale campaign to raise funds for young patients’ needs, the UOC Information Center reports.
Pope prays with Anglican female bishop, calls Christians to unity
Leo XIV received Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally at the Vatican and said divisions must be overcome.
OCU spokesman: St. Nicholas did not take part in First Ecumenical Council
Zoria called the participation of St. Nicholas of Myra in the Council of Nicaea a product of later perception – saying the saint was “definitely not there.”
Hungary nationalizes UGCC monastery and hands it over to local Uniates
Hungarian authorities nationalized the UGCC monastery in Máriapócs and transferred it to a Hungarian Greek Catholic structure, evicting the Basilians.