ROC: Patriarch of Jerusalem forbids OCU to serve in the Holy Land
Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem forbade members of the non-canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine to hold Easter services in the Holy Land.
Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem will not allow dissenters from the OCU to enter the Holy Land to the Easter service, said the head of the press service of Patriarch Kirill, priest Alexander Volkov.
"The Jerusalem Patriarchate does not allow schismatics to shrines located in the canonical territory of the Jerusalem Patriarchate," reports his words Interfax-Religion. “The Patriarch of Jerusalem does not allow any con-celebration, even a prayer one, of representatives of these schismatic structures.”
The priest added that there had already been attempts by the OCU to take part in a joint divine service in the Holy Land.
Earlier this year, the media reported pressure on the Jerusalem Patriarchate to force it to recognize the OCU.
