Bishop Victor of Baryshev: Patriarch Bartholomew has never condemned the violence toward the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has never publicly condemned the acts of violence, slander and malice aimed at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by representatives of ‘OCU’, underscored Bishop Anthony of Baryshev, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Representation to European international organizations, in his interview to news-politics.com.

It is not that the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are against the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew for no particular reason but because it will bring suffering to millions of Orthodox Ukrainians, he noted.

“Concerns have been repeatedly expressed that after the arrival of the Patriarch of Constantinople, a shift in the political vector will take place together with a return to the course that the previous government of the country followed until 2019”, the archpastor said. “This means that the number of raider seizures of our churches may considerably increase while the level of violence towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will grow as well”.

According to Bishop Victor, the arrival of Patriarch Bartholomew in Ukraine will be taken by the nationalist radical forces as a call to action, and the Primate of the Church of Constantinople cannot fail to understand it. “If he speaks of love for all Ukrainians, then he should refrain from the planned visit”, His Eminence stressed.

“On the other hand, the head of the Patriarchate of Constantinople […] could publicly condemn the acts of violence against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and call on his spiritual children from the ‘OCU’ to stop the vicious practice of seizing churches, beating up the Ukrainian Orthodox Church faithful. He could halt the purposeful flow of insults, slander and malice directed at our Church – but he never did this”, Bishop Victor stated.

Therefore, the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church stressed, the arrival of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople cannot evoke approval from millions of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“Nevertheless, we hope that having carefully studied the real, rather than the virtual situation in Ukraine, the head of the Church of Constantinople will make a wise decision so as not to exacerbate the existing problems in the religious life of our country”, Bishop Victor of Baryshev resumed.

Union of Orthodox Journalists/
DECR Communication Service

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Bishop Victor of Baryshev: Patriarch Bartholomew has never condemned the violence toward the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

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