Former OCU cleric: After raid in Cherkasy, Phanar was ready to revoke Tomos

Patriarch Bartholomew signs the Tomos of the OCU. Photo: BBC

Former “OCU priest” Yaroslav Yasenets said that after the violent seizure of the UOC’s St. Michael’s Cathedral in Cherkasy, Patriarch Bartholomew convened a synod at which the possibility of revoking the Tomos  was discussed.

He made this statement in an interview with the UOJ America.

“They even discussed the possibility of revoking the Tomos. But in the end, they decided it would seriously damage their reputation – first they granted the Tomos, and now they would take it away. That would look unserious, the whole world would laugh. So they decided to leave the Tomos with Epifaniy, but they were very concerned that instead of uniting Orthodoxy in Ukraine, he was dividing it,” Yasenets said.

He also noted that Patriarch Bartholomew regrets having granted the Tomos. According to Yaroslav Yasenets, the Patriarch told Epifaniy: “I gave you the Tomos to unite the Orthodox, and you are dividing them.”

According to the former OCU cleric, there is serious tension between Epifaniy Dumenko and Patriarch Bartholomew.

When asked how well informed the Constantinople Patriarchate is about the scale of the seizures of UOC churches, Yasenets replied that they know everything there, but are not in a position to seriously influence the situation.

“As far as I know, they tried to resolve these issues, but Epifaniy now feels like the master of everything, and since he is supported by the state, it is very difficult to change anything. I think Patriarch Bartholomew is not even trying to do anything now,” the former OCU cleric said. “I think perhaps he is praying and hoping that the situation will change. But I know that he and many bishops are dissatisfied with this.”

He also reported that relations between the Ecumenical Patriarch’s exarch, Bishop Michael (Anishchenko), and Epifaniy are “very tense” – they have not concelebrated the liturgy together for a long time.

“They used to serve together often, but now they do not. This can be seen from the photographs,” he noted.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Yasenets, the OCU even ordains people who do not know the Creed.

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