Consultations of Local Churches on the religious situation in Ukraine begin
Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: Efrem Lukatsky/AP/dpa/picture alliance)
The Serbian publication Zhurnal reports that consultations of the Local Orthodox Churches regarding the ecclesiastical order of Ukraine have begun.
A key aspect of these consultations is the participation of representatives from the Phanar and the Russian Orthodox Church.
The meeting of Constantinople representatives took place before Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election was announced, but in anticipation of it. Sources indicate that during the meeting, the Phanar reps questioned the figure of Epifaniy Dumenko as the leader of the OCU, though they remained steadfast on the issue of church autocephaly.
The Zhurnal article claims that Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State under President-elect Donald Trump, played a crucial role in the formation and establishment of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). However, Tucker Carlson and Vice President Vance have repeatedly pointed to the violations of fundamental rigths and freedoms of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), led by Metropolitan Onuphry.
Religious freedom is expected to once again become a priority for the next Trump-led administration.
The Serbian Orthodox Church has taken on the role of mediator in these consultations among the Local Churches. During a meeting yesterday between Patriarch Porfirije and the Ukrainian ambassador to Belgrade, it was officially stated that the Serbian Orthodox Church maintains its position that a canonical approach should be applied to resolve the church issue in Ukraine, which was not done in due time.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Luke proposed strengthening and expanding "Amman format".
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.