Constantinople officially recognized Filaret: The “squeeze” of Ukraine from the Russian Church begins
Ukraine did not receive church autocephaly today from the Patriarchate of Constantinople, but by the decision adopted, the anathema of the head of the “Kyiv Patriarch” Mikhail “Filaret” Denisenko, imposed by the Russian Church for the schism in the 1990s, was cancelled.
This is stated in the announcement following the results of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which was read out in Istanbul by Metropolitan Immanuel of Gali.
The Synod also decided to “renew the decision already made that the Ecumenical Patriarchate begin to grant autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine.”
A stauropegial (subordinate directly to Bartholomew) monastery will also be created in Kyiv.
The most significant decision is that “Patriarch” Filaret and “Metropolitan” Macarius, who started a schism in 1992, were restored to their canonical ranks. The anathema has been lifted from them.
In addition, the Synod canceled the legal force of the letter of 1696, which gave the Moscow Patriarch the right to ordain the Metropolitan of Kyiv.
The Synod called on "all parties involved to avoid the appropriation of churches, monasteries and other property, as well as any other acts of violence and retaliation, so that the peace and love of Christ will triumph."
“The Patriarchate of Constantinople has committed an unprecedented anti-canonical action, which is an attempt to destroy the foundations of the Orthodox canonical system. Otherwise, it is impossible to evaluate the statement of Constantinople about entering into canonical communion with schismatics and with a person excommunicated from the Church. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church will give a proper assessment of this act at its next meeting on October 15 in Minsk,” said Vladimir Legoida, chairman of the Synodal Department for Relations of the Church with Society and the Media of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Orthodox publicist Kirill Frolov told PolitNavigator that Constantinople’s decision will have dramatic consequences. Previously, Ukrainian nationalists repeatedly voiced threats to seize the Kiev-Pechersk and Pochaev Lavras.
Frolov predicts that the Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine will now be subject to fierce pressure from the SBU and controlled militants.
“Thus, the new year 1054 has occurred. Since the anti-Orthodox Uniate project of the “Ukrainian Local Church” is being implemented by the SBU, the methods will be forceful. Just as they physically eliminated the “prophet of Little Russia” Oles Buzina, they can also destroy the spiritual leader of millions of faithful of the UOC-MP, Metropolitan Onuphry,” Frolov warns.
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