Expert: Pompeo's visit to Kyiv confirmed that OCU is a US project

Head of the OCU Epiphany (Dumenko) and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo. Photo: Michael Pompeo’s Twitter

The whole story with the Tomos and the OCU was initially directed in Washington. The political scientist and political strategist Mikhail Pogrebinsky said this in a comment to the "1Kozak" channel, following the visit of US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to Ukraine.

“This is their project,” the expert explained, speaking about the role of the United States in the creation of the OCU. “And it was not by chance that Pompeo met with the representative of the OCU here, he was even with him at the St. Michael Monastery.”

He recalled that representatives of the US State Department "worked with the Patriarch of Istanbul, they put pressure on the Greek Orthodox Church – this is all known".

According to Pogrebinsky, the public approval by Michael Pompeo of the recognition of the OCU by the Alexandrian and Greek Churches is “just a frank admission that this is their work”.

In his opinion, with their support for the OCU the USA also demonstrate that “Americans don’t care about democracy”, which is about supporting the majority since in Ukraine most believers belong to the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Nevertheless, the expert is convinced that despite the "potential and capabilities of the Americans", "the centre of world Orthodoxy for most Orthodox people will not be in Istanbul”.

As reported, on January 31, 2020, the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo had a meeting with the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko, during which the parties reached an agreement on bilateral cooperation.

Read also

Metropolitan Jonathan appeals sentence to Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has requested criminal case files from the Vinnytsia City Court for cassation review.

UOC priest being forcibly held by TCC in Ternopil Region

Archpriest Oleh Melnyk was beaten at the TRC.

Metropolitan Victor comments on ROC's actions regarding UOC dioceses

UOC hierarch spoke about whether the statement by 33 UOC bishops could influence the ROC Synod’s decision on the leadership of the Donetsk Eparchy.

UOC hierarch: The Donetsk Eparchy remains part of the Ukrainian Church

Metropolitan Victor stated that 33 bishops of the UOC signed a statement condemning the removal of UOC Metropolitan Ilarion from managing the Donetsk Eparchy.

Greek hierarch condemns harsh reactions of priests toward LGBT marriages

Metropolitan Philotheos stated that the Church must love everyone, including those it disagrees with.

OCU criticizes the painting of Lutsk cathedral with portraits of businessmen

A report has surfaced that the businessmen and their relatives depicted on the frescoes of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Lutsk opposed having their portraits displayed on the cathedral walls.