Zoria says why the Church of Antioch did not recognize the OCU
Spokesman of the OCU Ivan (Eustratiy) Zoria stated that the Church of Antioch did not recognize the OCU allegedly because of the financial issue and the pressure exerted by Russia. He stated this in an interview with orthodoxtimes.
Zoria noted that in the margins of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, he met with the Patriarch of Antioch and had "a friendly discussion for several minutes."
According to the spokesman of the OCU, the Patriarchate of Antioch supposedly depends on financial issues.
“For Patriarch John, it is more important for his Patriarchate to survive ...>. I think that the internal problems in the Patriarchate of Antioch are so great, and the Patriarch understands that the unity of his Church is at greater risk,” Zoria said and added “the money unfortunately did and does a lot.”
Earlier, the Patriarch of Antioch stated that the recognition of the OCU is unwarrantable, while its creation is a threat to the unity of the Orthodox world.
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.