Insider: Phanar exploits war to prepare new church structure for Ukraine

The Constantinople Patriarchate has decided tacitly to create another church jurisdiction in Ukraine, separated from both the Russian Orthodox Church and the OCU. According to the UOJ sources, priests who refuse to commemorate Patriarch Kyrill in conditions of war but who see no possibility to unite with the schismatics will be lured into it.

The first throw-in on the subject was made the other day by an active apologist for the Ukrainian schism, Archimandrite Kirill (Govorun) of the ROC. He wrote that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople allowed UOC clerics who refused to commemorate the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church to commemorate him – without joining the OCU or any additional canonical procedures.

There has not been any official confirmation or statement from the Phanar about this. However, church circles are actively engaged in talks and probing bishops about the possibility of leaving the jurisdiction of the UOC. In the first place, the eparchies that refused to commemorate the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church are being considered.

As reported, some UOC bishops blessed clerics not to commemorate Patriarch Kyrill during services.

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