In Ukraine, signatures from politicians, journalists, academics, and ordinary faithful have been collected and sent to Patriarch Bartholomew in order to appeal to the Patriarch to meet with the Orthodox Churches to find a resolution to the schism in Ukraine. This appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarch comes in anticipation of an upcoming visit to Ukraine by the Patriarch. In the meantime, Churches of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church are being seized by extremists who support the artificial “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”.
Meanwhile, in an interview with an Italian newspaper Patriarch Bartholomew has defended his actions in Ukraine by pointing out that the Church of Constantinople had granted autocephaly to the other local Orthodox Churches. The difference between the Ukrainian case and the cases of real autocephalous Churches lies in the fact that the Ukrainian Church is not under Constantinople and that the Synod of the Phanar has no right to grant autocephaly in this case. Patriarch Bartholomew remains completely unreasonable with his attitude of self justification.
In the cases of other Orthodox Churches, autocephaly was an accomplished fact in those local Churches before Constantinople granted them each a Tomos of autocephaly. Again, the difference between the Churches of the Balkans and Ukraine was that the former Churches were part of the Church of Constantinople, whereas the Ukrainian Church is a part of the Moscow Patriarchate. Patriarch Bartholomew is simply denying reality by refusing to listen to the various appeals and messages from most of the Orthodox primates and bishops who stand in opposition to what has been done in Ukraine.
In other developments, a member of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Holy Synod, Metropolitan Athanasios of Chalcedon, has been removed from his position. It is unclear why this hierarch has been removed.
2 replies on “Patriarch Bartholomew and Ukraine”
Very disappointed in the Patriarch, who I once had great admiration for. He’s allowing himself to be used as a tool by western, globalist interests. The Orthodox Church has no Vatican or material presence like the Roman Catholic Church, it depends on it’s ethical stands and history of continuity to maintain it’s power and influence. When Orthodox leaders turn away from ethics and attempt to abuse their offices the Church image suffers great damage. Bartholomew should accept the criticism directed at him as well intended and express contrition for his errors in judgment and abuse of his office. It is still not too late to recover from these tragic mistakes.
This is exactly what I also thought : Patriarch Kirill I. is the one behind the war against Ukraine. The Russian Orthodox Church is a really fashistic church which is only respecting her own Russian rules, and these are also the rules of Putin and his brutal army.
Therefore also the Ukrainian Orthodox Church split off of the ROC in the year 2018
J.R.