Sviatoslav Shevchuk calls Phanar Mother Church for Uniates

Head of the UGCC Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Photo: news.ugcc.ua
The Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk said that although the Uniates are not Greeks, they take their faith and theological traditions from Byzantium, therefore Constantinople is the Mother Church for them.
Shevchuk explained such an unexpected interpretation of interfaith relations with the thesis which is not the first time he is trying to promote to the masses – that the UGCC allegedly originates in 988 when the Holy Prince Vladimir baptized Kievan Rus’.
“This (the adoption of Christianity by Rus’ – Ed.) happened before the Great Schism between West and East, which resulted in the birth of the Catholic and Orthodox Church,” he told the Brazilian newspaper “Gazeta do Povo”. “We received our faith from Constantinople, and from this Mother Church came our identity, our tradition and our rites, which include not only the ceremony but the theological and liturgical traditions, our cults and the canonical succession of bishops.”
On the website of the publication, this article is available for a fee, and on the official website of the UGCC it is published only in the English version.
As reported earlier, the UGCC adopted an updated “Ecumenical Concept”.
Read also
Dumenko holds "service" at seized UOC church in Boyarka
On September 29, the head of the OCU performed a "divine service" at St. Michael's Church in Boyarka and rewarded the raider-rector.
UOC hierarchs mark 30th anniversary of Holovchyntsi Convent's revival
UOC bishops and clergy of the eparchy congratulated the abbess of the Transfiguration Convent and her sisters on the memorable date.
UOC cleric discusses life of Ukrainian parishes with Hungarian official
A UOC priest and a Hungarian official paid particular attention to issues of practical interaction between Ukrainian parishes and government authorities.
Ukrposhta issues stamp featuring Lavra for Soviet-era reserve's anniversary
The new postal block, issued in a print run of 40,000 copies, depicts the Lavra's churches, bell tower, and ancient frescoes.
Met. Theodosiy links his criminal case to ex-prosecutor named in NABU tapes
A Cherkasy court extended Metropolitan Theodosiy’s preventive measure for another two months – until November 29, 2026.
Stefanchuk: Seeking UCCRO-LGBT compromise on new Civil Code
The Verkhovna Rada speaker said the working group is seeking a broad public compromise as it revises the draft of the new Civil Code.