Bishop Victor meets with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem
UOC representatives met with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem
On March 4, 2019, with the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Onufriy of Kiev and All Ukraine, Bishop Victor of Baryshevka, Vicar of the Kiev Metropolis, met with the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III. Archbishop Theophylactus of Jordan and Protopriest Nikolai Danilevich, Vice-Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC, also took part in the meeting, according to the Information and Education Department of the UOC.
Bishop Victor told the Primate of the Jerusalem Church about the current ecclesiastic situation in Ukraine and about the challenges the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is confronted with today.
Patriarch Theophilos noted that the Ukrainian church crisis is a challenge for the whole of Orthodoxy. The Primate expressed his firm hope that Universal Orthodoxy would find the strength and ability to overcome these temptations and preserve the unity of the Church.
Patriarch Theophilos assured that he is praying for Ukraine and the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kiev and All Ukraine. At the end of the meeting, the parties exchanged gifts.
Representatives of the UOC are staying in Israel as part of the delegation of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, which these days is making its working visit to this country.
Recall, on January 21, 2019, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during his visit to Israel was not able to meet with the Jerusalem Patriarch Theophilos III. Later, the press service of the President said that Poroshenko invited Patriarch Theophilos III to visit Ukraine to "establish a dialogue with the Local Church".
On January 22, Patriarch Theophilos received pilgrims of the UOC in his residence and handed over his primatial blessing to the faithful children of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
On January 30, the Primate of the Jerusalem Church met with Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary, the UOC Chancellor.
As the UOJ reported, according to media information, pressure is being imposed on the Jerusalem Patriarchate so that it recognized the OCU.
Read also
OCU chaplain: A soldier should not feel guilty for killing enemies
According to a cleric of the OCU, the word “killing” should not even be used in this context.
AFU servicewoman punished by “being sent to the frontline” for defending UOC
An OCU representative explained how commanders punish UOC believers who defend their Church.
UOC church seized after OCU's and UGCC's provocation at soldier's funeral
Supporters of the UGCC brought the body of a soldier into the church, pressuring a UOC priest to conduct the funeral according to the Greek Catholic rite in an Orthodox church.
UOC hierarch calls on the faithful to pray for the return of seized shrine
Metropolitan Theodosiy urged the faithful to communal and personal prayer to Archangel Michael.
Russian Orthodox Church Primate: Christ did not condemn death penalty
The Patriarch added that, although the Church does not welcome the death penalty, it has never condemned it if this punishment is carried out in accordance with the law.
Metropolitan Jonathan appeals sentence to Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has requested criminal case files from the Vinnytsia City Court for cassation review.