UOC KP Spokesman: Bartholomew is Patriarch of the European Union and USA
Spokesman of the Kiev Patriarchate Eustraty Zoria
The interests of the Patriarchate of Constantinople coincide with the interests of European and North Atlantic institutions. This was said in an interview with RISU by spokesman of the UOC-KP Eustraty Zoria.
According to Eustraty Zoria, the solution of religious issues in Europe largely depends on the solution of political problems. As an example, the UOC-KP spokesman cited the situation in the Balkans, where Greece is now seeking to resolve the dispute with Macedonia.
"Russia is trying in every possible way to torpedo the process of achieving understanding between Greece and Macedonia, while the Greek government is interested in reaching this understanding," Eustraty Zoria said. “The Constantinople Patriarchate has a similar interest as long as the European and North Atlantic institutions have this interest too. These institutions represent the countries that are fundamental to the Patriarch of Constantinople – being his flock hubs – Europe and America. Therefore, he is not the Patriarch of Istanbul, as they like to call him in Moscow. He is the Patriarch of the European Union and the United States of America."
According to the spokesman of the Kiev Patriarchate, the European Union and the United States are currently playing the same role that Byzantium used to play: they are the center of the world civilization, around which everything is rotating one way or another.
Earlier, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko claimed the issue of autocephaly in Ukraine is one of the pillars of "the entire world geopolitics".
Read also
Orthodox and Catholic bishops make joint visit to Mount Athos
The head of the Phanar blessed a joint pilgrimage to Mount Athos by Roman Catholic and Orthodox bishops.
UOC Kryvyi Rih Eparchy marks 30th anniversary
Metropolitan Yefrem led the anniversary Divine Liturgy in Kryvyi Rih.
Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”
The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl
UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.
Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom
The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.
Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million
Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.