Bishop Luke speaks to Turkish media about crisis caused by Fanar’s policies

Metropolitan Luke. Photo: Screenshot from Ulusal TV channel

Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol, a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), discussed the negative role of Patriarch Bartholomew in exacerbating religious tensions in Ukraine during an interview on the Ulusal Turkish channel.

According to him, the head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate worsened existing conflicts between the UOC and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and endangered the existence of the UOC.

The metropolitan noted that for years, UOC believers have protested against Constantinople's interference in Ukrainian church affairs: "Ukrainian believers have been unable to accept what Patriarch Bartholomew did to our country and Church for several years now. He did not resolve but deepened the schism. He was warned and pleaded with not to interfere. Over half a million signatures from our Church's faithful were sent to Fanar!"

Despite these appeals, Patriarch Bartholomew ignored the will of Ukrainian believers and legitimized uncanonical religious structures in Ukraine. "The situation has not been resolved; it has only worsened because, at Patriarch Bartholomew's behest, a structure subordinate to him is destroying the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," he stated, noting that in recent years, OCU supporters have seized about 1,500 UOC churches and even attacked UOC hierarchs, including Metropolitan Theodosiy.

Metropolitan Luke also emphasized that Patriarch Bartholomew did not stop the aggression against the UOC: "He openly supported the adoption of a law banning the UOC and stated that the persecution of UOC hierarchs and parishioners was the right course of action that should continue," the UOC hierarch said.

The bishop expressed his belief that Patriarch Bartholomew seeks to destroy the UOC to eliminate the problem created by his interference: "Realizing the catastrophe they orchestrated in Ukraine, representatives of Fanar want to destroy our Church... As executioners said during Bolshevik repressions: 'No man – no problem!'"

In conclusion, Metropolitan Luke questioned Patriarch Bartholomew’s double standards: "If Patriarch Bartholomew so strongly supports autocephaly, why does he not advocate for the recognition of, for example, the Orthodox Church in America or the Turkish Autocephalous Church?"

As reported by the UOJ, Bishop Luke previously spoke about the Phanar-Vatican’s joint strategy in Ukraine.

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