Local Orthodox churches, following the ROC, condemned the actions of Constantinople on granting autocephaly to Kiev. The Ecumenical Patriarchate actually equates itself with the schismatics. This opinion was supported by Poroshenko himself. In gratitude for the promise, he has already begun to give Ukrainian churches to Constantinople. This redistribution of property is extremely dangerous.
Anton Lyadov will report in detail.
- Could you tell us about the tomos?
- I don't know about it. Sorry, I'm in a hurry.
This is the reaction of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra clergy to the request to comment on the situation on camera. After the Patriarchate of Constantinople began the procedure for granting Ukraine independence — autocephaly, the pressure on the priests of the Moscow Patriarchate is increasing, as well as the tension among the parishioners.
"We don't really want to give an interview. We're strongly against the tomos because it's not serious. We'll never betray our faith".
At the same time, President Poroshenko is smiling at representatives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. It was these exarchs who read the report in Istanbul, after which Constantinople decided to remove the anathema from the heads of two non-canonical churches in Ukraine. In gratitude, Poroshenko decided to hand over a historic church, St. Andrew’s Church, to the Patriarchate of Constantinople Meanwhile, the exarchs are praising Poroshenko specifically, reading a dramatic speech from notes.
Hilarion, Bishop of Edmonton: "Your name is inscribed in golden letters into the history of Ukraine along with the names of the rulers of the Kievan Rus', the Kievan state".
But while the visiting guests praise Poroshenko to the skies, Ukrainian politicians get him back to the ground.
Yulia Tymoshenko, Verkhovna Rada deputy: "I think if Pyotr Poroshenko speaks so vehemently about faith then he should be reminded that faith is first of all love for people. If he treats them like that, then it’s clear why corruption, extortion, and offshores are taking from the people their last things or even things they don't have yet".
In the decision of Constantinople, the priests of the Moscow Patriarchate see more materially than spiritually.
Clement, Moscow Patriarchate: "This is just an extortion of tangible property at gunpoint. If the territory of Ukraine is now considered the territory of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, then every religious building and all property, any material thing associated with religious organizations — not only the Ukrainian Orthodox, but also Kiev the Patriarchate, and the UOC — all of this is now declared as property of Constantinople".
Vladimir Legoyda, Moscow Patriarchate Synodal Department: "I hope the assurances by the Ukrainian authorities that they will not allow unrest and the violent seizures of churches, and that believers will have the opportunity to continue to pray, to go to their churches, I hope these promises by the Ukrainian authorities won't be just words but they will be upheld, and none of those things will happen. Because, unfortunately, we know they have happened before".
Today, the forced decision of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to break off Eucharistic communion with Constantinople has received a reaction from abroad.
Iriney, Patriarch of Serbia: "Sadly, at the moment, our church is facing a great temptation, the temptation that engulfed the First Hierarch of our Church, the Patriarch of Constantinople — to make a decision that could be disastrous for the Church, to do something that he has no right to. I mean the recognition of a schismatic church and granting autocephaly to it. It's something that has never happened before".
Mikhail Botkoveli, Georgian Orthodox Church: "Until now, there have never been such resonant decisions in the Orthodox Church, We see a certain threat here. We urge society to keep calm. We must patiently wait for the discussion of this issue."
Metropolitan Jonah, UAS: "What happened is very sad, it's a great evil temptation. According to the canonical charter, the Russian Orthodox Church had no other choice but to end the communion. Most Orthodox churches support its position."
According to various estimates, if the Patriarchate of Constantinople isn't changing its decision, churches of the Moscow Patriarchate may lose anywhere from a quarter to a third of its parishes and from a third to half of the parishioners.
Alexander Volkov, ROC: "They can cut off gas, electricity, they can deny entrance, or they can simply deny registration. This is possible. In different places, these things have already arisen. Those tools that can be used by the authorities in Ukraine actually only confirm their lies, their insincere intentions".
The exarchs of the Constantinople Patriarchate who arrived in Ukraine today declared they would continue the process of granting autocephaly to Ukraine.
Anton Lyadov, Maria Saushkina, Alexander Shevchuk, Vesti.
