MP: Phanar head does not plan to create an exarchate in Ukraine

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency

Ukrainian Member of Parliament from the "European Solidarity" party and one of the ideologists behind the Tomos of the OCU, Rostyslav Pavlenko, stated on his Facebook that Patriarch Bartholomew does not plan to establish a Constantinople Exarchate in Ukraine or to admit the UOC into it following its ban.

Pavlenko believes that the idea of creating such a structure has surprised those at the Phanar, as the information about this proposal does not come from the Ecumenical Patriarch.

"They are allegedly drawing 'support' from the Tomos provisions about the possibility of involving the Ecumenical Patriarch in resolving key Church issues. They are making far-reaching conclusions on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (which, apparently, is very surprised by such conclusions). As a result, they are trying to convince people that the draft law 8371, which bans the activities of the Russian (!) church in Ukraine, somehow 'hinders the UOC’s departure from Moscow' or 'disrupts unification,'" wrote the MP.

Pavlenko also asserted that the UOC should move to the OCU, as the Tomos of Autocephaly for the OCU designates it as the "only canonical Church in Ukraine", making it impossible to create any new exarchates for the banned UOC.

"The Tomos also recognizes the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as autocephalous within the state borders of Ukraine. This means that there can be no other Orthodox Churches on this territory. None. Moreover, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has repeatedly emphasized, quoting from His Holiness’s response to the 'Tserkvarium' website back in 2020: '…in the spirit of pastoral sensitivity, we temporarily tolerate the existence of Ukrainian hierarchs under Russia not as local ruling bishops, but merely as titular or residing hierarchs in Ukraine, according to Canon 8 of the First Nicene Council, hoping that, by God’s will, they will soon unite with the local Church,'" the MP highlighted.

As previously reported by the UOJ, politician Ihor Mosiychuk had earlier claimed that the UOC of the Constantinople Patriarchate would be registered in Ukraine.

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