UOC comments on Constantinople’s communiqué on Tomos for SLOC

According to Protopriest Nikolai Danilevich, the Patriarchate of Constantinople will not do anything to preclude the All-Orthodox unity

According to Protopriest Nikolai Danilevich, the Patriarchate of Constantinople will not do anything to preclude the All-Orthodox unity

The Patriarchate of Constantinople being responsible for the Pan-Orthodox unity will not do anything to disturb this unity. This was written by deputy head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Protopriest Nikolai Danilevich on his Facebook page.

"Leaving behind the brackets the question of who to provide this autocephaly with as well as other issues, I would like to draw attention to two points in the text of the statement: 1. "...Ecumenical Patriarchate... which concerns itself with the preservation of All-Orthodox unity..." decided in view of this 2." to have a close contact with other Orthodox Churches for the purpose of communicating (them about this) and coordinating (with them this matter)" [the translation from Greek is mine]," writes father Nikolai.

According to him, this means that the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which concerns itself with the preservation of Pan-Orthodox unity,

"1. Will not do anything that would preclude this unity,

2. Has an intention to coordinate the issue of Ukrainian autocephaly with all the Local Orthodox Churches. Namely, this was the subject of yesterday's statement by the DECR of the UOC (hello to Mr. Evstratii Zorya, Yu. Chernomorets, and other commentators who criticized this point of the statement insisting that Constantinople is authorized to do it without other Churches."

"Thus, believers of the UOC can be calm. Other details will be added tomorrow. And today you can sleep peacefully – at least, believers of the UOC. Good night! ", wrote the deputy head of the DECR.

Earlier, on April 22, the Secretariat of the Constantinople Patriarchate announced that the Synod would examine the matters pertaining to the ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine, as it was done in previous synodal sessions.

In his turn, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko reported on Facebook that “the Ecumenical Patriarchate had begun the procedures necessary to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”

Read also

In Ukraine, Trump’s 'spiritual advisor' reassured of religious freedom

Pastor Mark Burns stated that Ukraine, despite the war, is a "beacon of religious freedom."

Lavra brethren congratulate Metropolitan Pavel on 31 years as abbot

The monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra have expressed hope that they will soon be able to pray again with their abbot.

Amsterdam: Intrusion into Lavra Caves – a return to Soviet-era persecution

International lawyer Robert Amsterdam has condemned the actions of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture regarding the inspection of holy relics in the Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, calling it a violation of religious freedom.

Over 20 EU states condemn Hungary for ban on LGBT propaganda among children

“This restricts the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” diplomats state in a joint declaration.

His Beatitude officiates consecration of Bishop of Rakhiv

At the Church of St. Agapitus in the Lavra, the Primate of the UOC ordained a vicar for the Khust Eparchy.

Met Victor: It is painful to see Lavra's relics turned into test subjects

According to the bishop, there is particular concern over how members of the scientific commission will handle the holy relics.