Shevchuk: Constantinople is the same mother of Orthodox and Uniates
The head of the UGCC noted that the dialogue with the Patriarchate of Constantinople is as important for the Uniates as for the representatives of the OCU.
The head of the UGCC, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, believes that Ukrainian Greek Catholics and members of the OCU share common roots. He stated this in an interview with the editor-in-chief of LB.ua Oleg Bazar in the Open Church program.
In particular, commenting on his meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, as well as the prospects for dialogue with representatives of the OCU, Sviatoslav Shevchuk said that “I do not see any obstacles for the Uniates to develop the communion with our Orthodox brothers around our common roots.”
Moreover, according to him, “when we want to look for ways to mutual rapprochement, we must search for what unites us. Well, we are united by the same mother. For example, during the meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew, we remembered that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is a mother Church for our Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.”
That is why, according to Shevchuk, “the communion with His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew is very important for us, not less than for the OCU”.
We remind you that earlier the UOJ wrote that, according to the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich), “the position of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is utterly clear to us. The head of this Church, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, openly stated that the creation of the so-called Orthodox Church of Ukraine is only the first stage, the second one should be a dialogue on restoring unity between the Uniates and members of the OCU. Therefore, all further developments are just a continuation of these words.”
