Lavrov Slams New Ukrainian Church as “Travesty of History” Aimed at Dividing Both Nations

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On Tuesday, Minister of Foreign Affairs S V Lavrov said at the Russian-Tajik Slavonic University that the establishment of the so-called Orthodox Church of the Ukraine violated the precepts of state non-interference in ecclesiastical life as well as the canons of Orthodox Christianity:

The decision was totally illegitimate under all canons… both the canons of state non-interference in ecclesiastical life and the canons of Orthodox Christianity itself, because the 1686 decision on transferring that church under the Moscow Patriarchate’s auspices made in Constantinople is irrevocable. All you have to do is to read it. I believe that this travesty of history, which  pursues the objective of sowing discord between Russia and the Ukraine, in addition to preventing our peoples from being friendly, is essentially a crime [by the current Ukrainian régime] against their citizens.

Ecclesiastical standoff in the Ukraine

The current leadership in the Ukraine sought to create a local Orthodox church independent of the Moscow Patriarchate ever since it came to power after a violent coup in 2014. Last April, Ukrainian President P A Poroshenko sent a letter to Patriarch Bartholomew Achontonis of Constantinople requesting autocephaly for the Ukrainian church. The Poroshenko régime cobbled together a “unification council” held in Kiev on 15 December 2018, which announced the creation of a new church, the so-called Orthodox Church of the Ukraine. The EP handed over a Tomos of Autocephaly (a clerical decree on establishing an independent church) to its head, “Metropolitan” Epifany Dumenko, on 6 January 2019. Both the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church/MP and the central apparat of the Moscow Patriarchate consider the newly-established ecclesiastical institution schismatic. Other Local Churches either condemned Constantinople’s actions or chose ostentatious silence. None of them congratulated Epifany on receiving a Tomos of Autocephaly.

5 February 2019

TASS

http://tass.com/society/1043295

Putin sez that Russia Reserves the Right to Defend Religious Freedom in the Ukraine

Peace procession of the canonical UPTs/MP in 2016… it contains 85 percent of the Orthodox believers in the Ukraine

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President V V Putin noted that the struggle for power is a problem in church life in the Ukraine; it seems that a project based in speculation and politicking is taking place. He stated that Russia doesn’t wish to interfere in the situation, but it reserves the right to react to human rights abuses there. On Thursday, Putin spoke at a solemn ceremony noting the 10th anniversary of the MP’s Local Council:

Fraternal inter-church ties historically united and brought people together, serving to develop equitable relations between Russia and many foreign countries. However, unfortunately, we see other examples where speculation, politicking, and parasitism affecting questions of religious life led to disunity amongst the people, provoking anger, and fanning fanaticism. Such projects aren’t related to faith, but are obvious fakes, being entwined with the struggle for power taking place in the Ukraine. It’s regrettable that it involved the Patriarchate of Constantinople. In fact, this was blatant interference in church life. Its initiators looked as though they had learnt from the godless of the last century, who expelled believers from churches, and harassed and persecuted the clergy. The Russian authorities consider it unacceptable to interfere in church affairs. We respect and will respect the independence of church life, especially, in a neighbouring sovereign country. Nevertheless, we reserve the right to react and do everything to protect human rights, including freedom of religion.

31 January 2019

Interfax-Religion

http://interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=71945

Blasphemous Fresco in Parish of Pseudo-Orthodox Church that Entered Into Communion with the EP

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Total madness, of course, but I can’t help but share it. This “fresco” is in a church of the “Kiev Patriarchate” in Kremenets (Ternopol Oblast) in the “Ukraine”. This pseudo-Orthodox sect entered into communion with the “Ecumenical” Patriarchate, whose symbol is still the Roman (Byzantine) double-headed eagle.

17 October 2018

Mikhail Tyurenkov

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OCA Tries to Ignore EP Apostasy… Nothing About EP Actions or Moscow’s Counteractions on OCA Official Website

Is Mallard a Mazeppa or simply the Court Fool? Time alone will tell us…

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There’s still nothing up on the OCA official website about the EP apostasy in re the Ukraine. Nothing. Nada. Nichevo. It’s as though nothing is happening and it’s business as usual. This is treachery of the highest order. Moscow gave the OCA its autocephaly and defended it against EP aggrandisement. The OCA has repaid it by refusing to stand by its Mother Church in its hour of need. I’ve noticed that too many converts are either wishy-washy or support the apostasy of the EP. Shall they stay loyal to the Mother Church and Truth, or shall they sell out to the EP and Expediency? Only time will tell us, and I fear that the outcome would be that the OCA will either fly apart or go into schism with the EP. In the end, the main victim of this affair won’t be the UPTs/MP… I fear that this may mark the end of the OCA in its present form. God do help us… the schism is only in its initial stage, but what I see gives me no confidence.

BMD