Religious expert blames schismatics for the “cross processions” rivalry
Religious expert Aleksandr Sagan pointed to the lack of a common ground between the UAOC and the UOC-KP on the anniversary of the Baptism of Rus.
The "religious procession", held by the supporters of the UAOC on July 24 in Kiev, demonstrates their disunity with the Kyiv "patriarchate". To such conclusions came religious expert Aleksandr Sagan in a message posted on his Facebook page.
"What is the purpose of this action – the first in the history of the UAOC religious procession, dedicated to the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine?” asks Sagan. “To show on the eve of getting a tomos that the UAOC and UOC-KP still cannot find a common ground? Some "will not invite", the others "will not ask for an invitation" (it’s about July 28, when the UOC-KP religious procession is scheduled). Ternopol and Ivano-Frankovsk regions (also Lvov region a little) have sported their embroidered outfits. It is impressive that all this occurred including at the expense of the local administrations. Verily, the left hand does not know what the right hand does."
In comments to the post with the attached 4-minute video of the "cross procession", former press secretary of Filaret, Yury Doroshenko, wrote that the UAOC thus "is hiking up its price". In turn, scandalous "bishop" Victor Bed called the claims toward the UAOC "groundless."
In 2015, the UAOC and UOC-KP once again failed to unite, accusing each other of disrupting the negotiations. Representatives of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church said that the Kyiv "patriarchate" unilaterally abolishes all agreements but then tries to ascribe its actions to others.