MP: Unfortunately, not all Local Churches recognize OCU

Patriarch Bartholomew presenting the Tomos to Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: UNIAN

Mykyta Poturaev, Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, stated that Local Churches are unwilling to recognize the autocephaly of Epifaniy Dumenko's structure due to dependence on Moscow and competition for Ukrainian believers abroad.

According to the deputy, Local Churches do not recognize the OCU for several reasons. "Unfortunately, not all Orthodox Churches in the world have yet recognized the OCU, and the situation here is not simple. Some do not recognize it due to dependence on Moscow. And some have their own calculations and interests, in particular due to competition for influence and for the Ukrainian flock abroad." The deputy did not specify which Churches are dependent on Moscow and which are competing for influence over Ukrainians.

Poturaev acknowledged the existence of problems even in dialogue with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. "Even in relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which granted us the Tomos, not everything is going smoothly – there are also internal influences and competing interests that have to be taken into account. This is a sensitive diplomatic arena."

As the UOJ reported, a Serbian priest called the OCU's Tomos a violation of canonical norms.

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