Novynskyi: Patriarch Bartholomew plays a major role in persecution of UOC

Zelensky and Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: OP website

Speaking on the program of well-known American journalist and public figure Tucker Carlson, UOC Protodeacon and former MP Vadym Novynskyi pointed to the involvement of the Ecumenical Patriarch in the persecution of the Ukrainian Church.

“Unfortunately, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has played a very large and destructive role in all of this,” the clergyman emphasized. “Regrettably, they are acting in unison, hand in hand (with the Ukrainian authorities. – Ed.). The fact that he has never once raised his voice in defense of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, despite all the persecutions, proves that he is, in fact, complicit in all of this.”

At the same time, Fr. Vadym noted that the UOC continues to receive support from other Local Churches and their patriarchs – in particular, the Patriarchates of Jerusalem, Georgia, and Serbia.

“The Church will not be defeated. The true canonical Church will not be overcome. The Communists couldn’t defeat us in the twentieth century, because the Head of the Church is Christ – and the consequences will be dire for those who oppose Him. We will endure these trials and be purified. And we are very grateful to you and to all who are doing anything for our Church,” the protodeacon stressed.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Fr. Vadym Novynskyi spoke to Carlson about the daily seizures of churches in Ukraine.

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