Phanar hierarch: Ukraine unable to convince world of correctness of anti-UOC measures

Zelensky at a meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: Orthodox Observer

The UOJ in America has obtained a multi-page letter from the head of the Archdiocese of the Constantinople Patriarchate in the USA, Archbishop Elpidophoros to Patriarch Bartholomew dated November 21, 2025.

The letter contains a detailed report on the coordinated efforts of the Constantinople Patriarchate to counter Orthodox defenders of the UOC in the United States.

As follows from the letter, Archbishop Elpidophoros personally traveled to Washington to "prevent the development of events" and convey to officials of the White House, State Department and Congress the "real facts" of the Ukrainian church crisis – naturally, in the Phanar's interpretation. Protopriest Alexander Karloutsos, Grand Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, sought to cancel a number of meetings of the Orthodox delegation with official figures.

However, all these efforts proved futile.

Most noteworthy is the section "Comments and Observations," where the head of the Constantinople Church in America writes: "Finally, it seems that the Ukrainian side is unable to convince international public opinion of the correctness of the measures taken by the Ukrainian Government against Onuphry personally, his hierarchs and clergy, and his entire ecclesiastical presence in the country. Exploiting this, the other side projects Ukraine internationally as a country trampling on religious freedoms and persecuting the Orthodox Church."

Previously, UOJ wrote that, according to Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, Ukrainian officials involved in church seizures will be held accountable.

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