US Ambassador to Greece concerned about "efforts to reverse Tomos for OCU"
US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt. Photo: politeka.net
US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt said that Russia is trying to reverse the Tomos for the OCU, reports the official website of the embassy.
“ the United States remains concerned that Moscow continues to try to foment instability and undermine the sovereignty of independent Orthodox-majority nations, including its efforts to reverse the Ecumenical Patriarch’s historic grant of Tomos to the Church of Ukraine,” Payette said.
According to the Ambassador, the situation in Ukraine is one of the major aspects of the relationship between the Patriarch of Constantinople and the United States.
“In October, the Ecumenical Patriarch also visited the United States for the first time in about a decade, where he met President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken, among many other American leaders. The White House noted in its official readout from that visit that President Biden emphasized the importance of religious freedom as a fundamental human right, as well as his personal and decades-long friendship with the Patriarch. And given the importance of developments in Ukraine, it is no surprise that those issues also figured prominently in the Ecumenical Patriarch’s conversations in Washington,” the American diplomat said.
Geoffrey Pyatt also expressed his opinion on the creation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa, confirming the ties between this event and the creation of the OCU.
“Most recently, on December 29, the Russian Orthodox Church announced the creation of its own patriarchal exarchate in Africa. Having severed ties with Alexandria and All Africa for supporting the autocephaly of the Church of Ukraine, the Russian authorities are currently pushing about 100 Orthodox clergy in Africa to join their exarchate and sign a pledge that says ‘we are not doing this in pursuit of financial gain’."
As reported, the head of the GOC spoke about cooperation with the US Ambassador on the issue of recognizing the OCU.
Read also
Pope warns clergy against writing AI-based sermons
The head of the Roman Catholic Church warned priests about the risks of using digital technologies in ministry.
UOC parishes abroad hold memorial services on war anniversary
Clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church abroad prayed on the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Persecuted UOC parish in Tovtry performs reading of Great Penitential Canon
Another Bukovynian community, deprived of its church, continues Great Lent services in an adapted facility.
Officials conduct “inspection” at UOC’s Myltsi monastery
Officials inspected all buildings of the St. Nicholas Monastery in Volyn and carried out what they described as “architectural measurements.”
Metropolitan Theodosiy's preventive measure extended for another two months
The head of the Cherkasy Eparchy has had his preventive measure in the form of personal obligations extended in the case initiated by the SBU due to his public statements.
Primate of UOC reads Penitential Canon at Feofania
Metropolitan Onuphry led Great Compline with the final section of St. Andrew of Crete’s Great Penitential Canon at the St. Panteleimon Women’s Monastery.