European Deanery of UOC-KP: Phanar ignores our opinion
In the opinion of the UOC-KP believers in Europe, "those who claim that the OCU is precisely the local church we have been waiting for have followed the path of lies."
On October 14, 2020, the European Deanery of the UOC-KP stated on its Facebook page that Phanar turns a blind eye to the believers of the Kyiv Patriarchate in Europe.
The deanery stressed that “they are always happy to enter into dialogue with representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,” and also expressed confidence that “the solution to the problem of the Diaspora is possible only in a Christian format and that the Patriarchate of Constantinople itself creates a barrier to overcoming it, ignoring the opinion of Ukrainians abroad.”
“In the same way, Phanar ignores the opinion of His Holiness Patriarch Filaret, who gave his consent to the Tomos and did not demand anything except that this autocephaly be real,” the dean's office said.
Representatives of the deanery noted that they share the opinion that “the fact of the creation of the stavropegia of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine and the development of events regarding the ordination of the exarch as bishop has confirmed once again that the OCU is not only limited by the territory of Ukraine, but also does not have any canonical territory of its own being one of the ‘units’ of the Patriarchate of Constantinople."
The dean's office also expressed its agreement with the opinion of the Internet resource Churcher that “after the Synod of the Church of Greece, Epiphany apparently, received a very deceitful recognition, though it was recognition”.
“Well, it was not just ‘crafty’, but ‘VERY crafty’ – and this is the pure truth! And if it is crafty, then this is not recognition. This is all about guile (deceit),” the deanery upheld.
Believers of the Kyiv Patriarchate in Europe believe that “those who claim that the OCU is precisely the local church that we have been waiting for a long time despite the obvious contradictions have taken the path of lies. Otherwise, why did such a "church" abandon its faithful all over the world? There is no justification for this and these are deeds that testify to the true nature of those who act like that."
They are confident that the hearts of those who “after receiving the tomos, instead of defending and protecting their Ukrainians around the world, are trying to eliminate them both abroad and in Ukraine” will be adversely affected.”
This position, according to the dean's office, is "an unforgivable shame that requires sincere repentance from those who continue to follow this direction."
The deanery office also assures that it is “not a fact” that “representatives of the UOC-KP communities in Europe will want to obey the head of the OCU, even if Phanar would allow it. But not only for this reason, but also because no one can change jurisdiction without approval. So, in order for this to happen in a legal way, it is necessary that the Holy Patriarch, who was betrayed by all the present clergy of the OCU, or in the future his follower, should allow this transition."
Representatives of the UOC-KP in Europe also stated that “those few clergymen, who have departed from the former German Deanery with parishes, but continue to call themselves so, are no longer considered clergy according to the holy canons of the church, and cannot be accepted by any church. However, they always have a path open to return through repentance. "
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that another European parish had joined the UOC-KP.
