Diplomat: Bartholomew called Filaret “excommunicated from the Church”
In the 1990s, Patriarch Bartholomew realized that Filaret Denisenko could not be the head of the Ukrainian Church despite his sympathy for the then metropolitan, because this would be contrary to all canonical norms. Igor Turiansky, the former ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey, spoke about this during the "Moscow Patriarchate in the Russian War against Ukraine" roundtable , which took place on October 31, 2022 in Kyiv at the initiative of the Institute for Foreign Policy Studies.
Turiansky said that in October 1993, the diplomatic mission of Ukraine arrived in Istanbul to meet with the head of the Phanar, during which politicians and the patriarch discussed the idea of creating an "independent church."
“The main reflection of Bartholomew then was the fact that it was impossible to rely on Filaret, because he was excommunicated from the Church. This is wrong from a moral, human point of view and impossible according to church canons, which cannot be violated. He said that he loves Filaret, considers him his brother, but he cannot support him,” said Turiansky.
According to the ex-ambassador, Bartholomew called Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan) a person who was capable of creating an independent Church in an independent country.
“The patriarch added, 'Convey these words of mine to Vladimir Sabodan (Met. Onuphry’s predecessor – Ed.)',” recalls the former diplomat.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the OCU considers the consecrations performed by Filaret Denisenko invalid.
Read also
Priest charged with desertion freed after faithful raise bail
Archpriest Vitaliy Agafonov, a cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has been released after bail was posted with funds raised by the faithful.
UOC clergy and laity from several eparchies donate blood for wounded soldiers
Clergy and Orthodox youth of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church donated blood for wounded military personnel.
UOC faithful in Kozelshchansk hold procession with icon of the Mother of God
Pilgrims and clergy of the Poltava Eparchy prayed at the Kozelshchansk Monastery and took part in a procession around the church with the wonderworking icon.
Hearing in Metropolitan Theodosiy’s сase postponed after “victim” no-show
A scheduled hearing at the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Court in the case against the ruling bishop of the Cherkasy Eparchy was postponed after OCU chaplain Nazariy Zasansky failed to appear.
Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi: The time has come to build the Third Temple
The spiritual leader of Ukraine’s Jewish community commented on Tucker Carlson’s claims about the religious motives behind the war in the Middle East.
US bars removal of children from parents who reject gender transition
U.S. authorities have affirmed the right of families to raise their children in accordance with their religious convictions and biblical understanding of sex.