Greek theologian: Ukrainians did not accept OCU, the project has failed

UOC's Cross Procession in 2021. Photo: UOJ

Greek theologian and priest Anastasios Gotsopoulos, in an article titled "‘Ukrainian Autocephaly’ Has Failed", published on the Greek section of UOJ, stated that the Ukrainian people did not accept the OCU, and the law banning the UOC is a factual confirmation of this.

"The inability of the autocephalous church structure to absorb the canonical Church led to the adoption of Law 8371/20.8.2024, which declares the canonical Ukrainian Church, supported by the majority of Orthodox Ukrainians, illegal. This is the extent of their rage against the canonical Church! They thought that the people of God would accept their innovations and join the new structure. They failed! They began brutal persecutions against believers. And again, they failed! Now they are outlawing the Church of Christ. And they will fail once more!" wrote the theologian.

He emphasized that since 2018, OCU supporters have attributed people's reluctance to join Dumenko’s structure to Russian influence. However, the war has invalidated their arguments.

"On the contrary, despite a strong push against everything Russian, the number of transitions, despite violence and persecution, remains minimal and is steadily decreasing (in 2022 – 496, in 2023 – 471, in 2024 – 232)," the Greek priest pointed out.

He considers it "obvious" that "the project of 'Ukrainian Autocephaly' was not accepted by the faithful people, meaning it has failed, because despite immense pressure and persecution, millions of Orthodox Ukrainians remained loyal to the Church of their ancestors and refused to join Epifaniy Dumenko’s new autocephalous structure."

He also stated that Petro Poroshenko, along with all politicians and church figures who assured Patriarch Bartholomew that "all believers would joyfully rush into the new Church," had deceived him.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that even according to official figures, no more than 12% of UOC parishes have left over the past six years.

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