Met Sawa: Patriarch Bartholomew asked what he had to do about Ukraine
In an interview with polityka, Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland said that he called on Patriarch Bartholomew to gather the primates of the Local Churches to solve the Ukrainian issue.
“When Patriarch Bartholomew visited us, I told him that instead of helping Ukraine, this so-called tomos divided it. And I heard, ‘What should I do?’ I replied that it was necessary to convene the heads of the Local Churches, who would help get out of this precarious situation,” says the hierarch.
According to him, there are now nominally “four primates” in Ukraine – His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, Filaret Denisenko, Epifaniy Dumenko, and Makariy Maletich, the former head of the UAOC.
“A healthy church body cannot calmly take in such confusion, so I spoke about it with Patriarch Bartholomew. He agreed with me, but he finds it difficult to make a decision on Ukraine. But there can be only one thing in this respect: to convene the entire hierarchy, determine what to do with Epifaniy in order to give the Church in Ukraine full autocephaly,” said Metropolitan Sawa.
Earlier, the UOJ reported on the statement of the Primate of the Polish Church that Filaret performed his "consecrations" as a layman, hence the Polish Church does not recognize the "episcopate" of the OCU.
Read also
SBU told Phanar many UOC bishops would join OCU in 2018, report says
According to a Phanar representative’s account, Ukrainian security services told the Constantinople delegation that many UOC representatives were prepared to attend the OCU’s “Unification Council.” In the end, only two did.
Catholic cardinal visits Ukrainian POWs during trip to Russia
During three days of consultations in Moscow, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi discussed prospects for ending the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainians help restore Serbian Orthodox church in Paris
Orthodox Ukrainians have become regular parishioners of St. Sava Church in Paris and have taken part in its restoration.
Bulgarian Church clergy and laity oppose Phanar head’s visit
More than 2,000 clergy and laity have called for the Ecumenical Patriarch’s visit to be canceled, citing disagreement with his actions and concerns that the visit could legitimize schism.
Unknown intruders break down doors at two UOC churches in Sloviansk
Archbishop Paisiy said OCU activists are suspected of breaking into the churches in Sloviansk, and police have launched an investigation.
Sviatohirsk Lavra prays for murdered monk on 40th day after death
The brethren of the Sviatohirsk Lavra held a memorial service for murdered Monk Varsonofiy, calling on the faithful to pray for the newly departed monk.