On Poroshenko's treason and alliance with Bartholomew and Dumenko

Petro Poroshenko, Patriarch Bartholomew, Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: Zerkalo Tyzhnia

Attempts were made to serve him with a summons on December 18, but they were rather ineffective. The former president jumped into a car, shouting, "Let's go, damn it!" (in the occupier's language), and sped off to the airport, from where he flew to Turkey.

In Istanbul, Poroshenko immediately went to the Phanar to see Patriarch Bartholomew. Former MP (and Filaret supporter) Ihor Mosiychuk commented on this, saying, "It's good to have people who will always shield you from receiving a suspicion notice from the SBI."

On December 20, the State Bureau of Investigation confirmed the suspicion against Petro Poroshenko for treason and financing terrorism. What can be said about this?

The moral character of Petro Poroshenko has long been clear to everyone. This is a man who, during the 2014 presidential campaign, promised to end the war within hours, but later said, "Our children will go to schools and kindergartens, and theirs will be sitting in basements." This is the man who called for the destruction of the UOC as the "tentacles of the aggressor country", while simultaneously subserviently telling Putin, "I shake your hand."

This is a man who did not hesitate to use the church issue as a "gimmick" in the 2019 presidential campaign. We all remember the persecution of UOC hierarchs, the directives to local authorities to mass transfer UOC communities to the OCU, the "Tomos tours" across Ukrainian cities with Epifaniy and Filaret, his pre-election speeches from the pulpits of OCU churches, and so on.

And this "authoritative" person was equated with Saint Prince Volodymyr by Dumenko, who declared that the OCU sees only Poroshenko as president. Poroshenko's name is inscribed in golden letters in the OCU Tomos by Patriarch Bartholomew. Poroshenko signed an agreement with Bartholomew to transfer several churches and monasteries to the Phanar, which was not implemented only due to the change of government in Ukraine.

In short, for Patriarch Bartholomew and Serhiy Dumenko, Petro Poroshenko is a close and kindred spirit, an ally. And this fact speaks volumes about both the head of the Phanar and the head of the OCU.

We have no particular illusions about the investigation against Petro Oleksiyovych, but there is no one who does not see the discrepancy between the real moral character of the ex-president and the honors bestowed upon him by the Phanar and the OCU.

Every Christian knows the words from Psalm 146 of the Psalter, which calls not to trust in princes, because there is no salvation in them. These words are thousands of years old, but they are still relevant today. The Poroshenko-Bartholomew-Dumenko alliance vividly confirms this relevance.

Read also

When every UOC church in Lviv Region is shut down – is that “freedom of faith”?

In Galicia, the authorities have effectively outlawed the UOC and are hunting down “underground” services – while in the United States they solemnly insist that no one in Ukraine is persecuted for their faith.

Why Epifaniy’s “piety” justifies Patriarch Bartholomew’s hopes

The Phanar is convinced that Dumenko “stands firmly and unshakably on spiritual heights.”

Dumenko’s “dialogue” appeal to the UOC: sincerity or strategy?

If the OCU truly wanted dialogue, it would decide to halt seizures and return what was taken.

Where did the circus go? It was here just yesterday

At an Orthodox Church of Ukraine “service” with Epifaniy (Dumenko) in the seized cathedral in Volodymyr, there are people. But the very next day – without Epifaniy – there are no people.

Why instigators of hatred against the UOC should be in prison

Churches were not built for one state to defeat another, not for the triumph of an “Ukrainian spirit,” and not for the “spirit” of any other nation.

Should His Beatitude commemorate the head of the ROC or not?

Fierce battles are being waged on social media and screens about how Metropolitan Onuphrius should act and how he should not.