Journalist: Head of Phanar spoke to Zoria about church raids face-to-face

Evstratiy Zoria, Epifaniy Dumenko, Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: OCU

Evstratiy Zoria, Epifaniy Dumenko, Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: OCU

Belarusian journalist and theologian Natallia Vasilevich shared an episode on her Telegram channel related to the position of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew regarding the situation with seizures of churches in Ukraine. According to her, Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his deep concern about the violence and seizures associated with the activities of the OCU (Orthodox Church of Ukraine) during a conversation with OCU spokesperson Evstratiy Zoria. During a liturgy in Tallinn last June, the head of the Phanar told Zoria that the unity of the Church cannot be built on violence.

Patriarch Bartholomew, who took responsibility for the creation of the OCU and granted it the Tomos of Autocephaly, is now facing serious risks and costs, both personally and for the unity of global Orthodoxy. According to Vasilevich, the church seizures and violence supporting the OCU are undermining the reputation not only of Dumenko's structure (OCU) and Ukraine as a whole but also of Patriarch Bartholomew himself, placing him in a difficult position.

Vasilevich emphasized that such actions radicalize society, undermine the rule of law, and create a moral burden for the faithful of the OCU who oppose violence. These events tarnish the reputation of the Ecumenical Patriarch, who extended his omophorion over the OCU and now has to deal with the consequences of these actions.

Previously, the UOJ published a chronicle of the seizure of the St. Michael's Cathedral of the UOC in Cherkasy.

Read also

Lavra's empty Dormition Cathedral shown online during patronal vigil

Only about ten people attended the OCU service for the main feast of the Kyiv-Pechersk Dormition Lavra.

UOC Primate officiates Liturgy of the Lord's Cross Procession Feast in Lavra

After the service, Metropolitan Onuphry blessed honey and herbs, which the faithful traditionally bring to churches on this day.

Amsterdam: One phone call from Trump can end the trauma of UOC persecution

Republicans in the U.S. suspect that “if there was ever any newspaper coverage, or if there was ever a way to get at these people, Trump could be motivated to do something.”

Amsterdam: OCU and persecution of UOC was foisted by the U.S. government

An American lawyer has claimed that the idea to destroy the UOC originated with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt.

Ukrainian MPs urge Trump to stop persecution of the UOC

Oleksandr Dubinsky and Artem Dmytruk have appealed to the U.S. President to include the release of political prisoners as a condition of any peace agreement.

DESS announces “world’s largest pilgrimage of Jews”

Despite martial law and the ban on mass gatherings, 45,000 Jews are expected to come to Uman.