Hierarch of Constantinople demands removal of critical article about OCU

Photo: Metropolitan Emmanuel and Serhiy Dumenko. Source: OCU

The editorial team at Orthodox Times reported that one of the platform’s most widely read articles – titled “What sources from Phanar and Kyiv reveal to Orthodox Times about the situation in Ukraine” – provoked a negative reaction from Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, one of the central figures mentioned in the piece. He demanded that the article be taken down.

Orthodox Times refused to comply, stating that their sources are accurate, carefully verified through journalistic cross-checking, and that they would soon publish additional articles on the evolving situation within the Orthodox community in Ukraine, "a subject we have been closely monitoring and covering for years, with strong reader engagement."

"What particularly encourages us to continue this effort is the reception the article received in Ukraine, especially from members of all Orthodox Churches, who described it as reporting that 'reflects reality,'” the edition highlighted.

As a reminder, the publication in question claimed that Metropolitan Emmanuel was filtering information about Ukraine before it reached Patriarch Bartholomew.

“Whatever information reaches the Phanar is only what Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon wants and allows to be shared. He maintains a close relationship with Metropolitan Eustratius in Ukraine, and the two support each other’s positions for reasons of their own. Both are responsible for the current state of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine. In the Phanar, everything related to Ukraine goes through Emmanuel. And anyone who dares speak out on this issue is sidelined. Emmanuel accuses them – and that’s the end of it,” the sources claim.

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