Archbishop Elpidophoros criticizes UOC for not commemorating Patriarch Kirill

Patriarch Kirill. Photo: Russian Orthodox Church

Archbishop Elpidophoros, head of the American Archdiocese of the Constantinople Church, in an interview with Veche, criticized the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for discontinuing the commemoration of Patriarch Kirill.

“Since these hierarchs (of the UOC – Ed.), and possibly even Metropolitan Onuphry himself, refuse to commemorate the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, how can they claim that they are a canonical Church? How can one be a canonical Church if one commemorates no one?” the archbishop asked.

He also criticized the Primate and the hierarchy for ignoring the authority of Patriarch Bartholomew, “the only patriarch in the Orthodox world who, by history and the canons of the Ecumenical Councils, has the right to grant you canonical status.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Archbishop Elpidophoros, the Primate and bishops of the UOC did not attend the “unification council” of the OCU in 2018 because of fear of the Russian security services.

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