Greek theologian calls on Local Churches to defend UOC

Greek theologian Protopresbyter Anastasios Gotsopoulos. Photo: UOJ
Greek priest and theologian Anastasios Gotsopoulos, in an article on the Greek section of the UOJ titled “‘Ukrainian Autocephaly’ Has Failed”, called on Local Churches to defend the millions of UOC believers.
According to him, the statistics from the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), which claim that only 12% of parishes have transitioned to the OCU (a figure he considers highly exaggerated), “confirm beyond any doubt that the demand for autocephaly did not come from the people of God in Ukraine (the clergy, monks, and faithful), but from other centers serving different goals.”
"We call upon and urge the ecclesiastical leadership of the Orthodox Churches to set aside ethno-phyletistic considerations, rise above the situation, and support the persecuted canonical Church of Ukraine and its millions of faithful by all means. It is unacceptable that the Anglican Church is raising its voice in protest while Orthodox leaders remain silent," the theologian stated.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Protopresbyter Anastasios Gotsopoulos, the people of Ukraine did not accept the OCU, and the project has failed.
Read also

Cherkasy Eparchy reports its website is closed due to SBU actions
Officials tried to use the technical features of the platform to accuse the site's moderators.

Thousands of Bulgarians take to streets to support "Virtues and Religion"
Clergy and believers of the Bulgarian Church rallied to support the initiative of the Ministry of Education.
UOC Primate to lead celebrations of 35th anniversary of Khmelnytskyi Eparchy
His Beatitude will perform the Liturgy and the consecration of the cathedral in Khmelnytskyi.
Trump: Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia should take place in Vatican
The President of the United States spoke about a phone conversation with Putin.
Kyiv theological schools publish 2 volumes of journal “Proceedings of KDA”
In the «Proceedings of the KDA», scientific articles by professors, associate professors, and lecturers of the Academy, as well as by secular and theological institutions, are published.
Met. Meletiy supports persecuted St. Basil parish of UOC in Chernivtsi
The hierarch of the UOC urged believers not to become embittered and to maintain inner peace, because «this is our weapon, the most important and strongest».