“If they knew the contents they wouldn’t agree”: why Tomos criticized autocephaly in the PCU

The former head of the divisive Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate (UOC-KP) Filaret Denisenko said that if he knew about the content of the tomos about autocephaly before its delivery, he refused it.

“But we at the council (for the unification of church structures. - RT ) did not know its contents. Learned after the merger. If we knew the content of this tomos, we would not agree to such a tomos, ”he said.

Recall tomos about autocephaly was transferred after the "unifying cathedral" in Ukraine on December 15 last year. Then the schismatic church organizations, with the active assistance of the leadership of Ukraine and the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew, decided to unite into the Orthodox Church of Ukraine under the leadership of Epiphanius Dumenko. Neither the canonical UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate nor the ROC recognized the new structure.

In an interview with the channel “Present” * Filaret explained that this document placed the M & V in a dependent position in front of Constantinople. This is manifested in three points: first, the followers of the PCC outside Ukraine became part of the Congregation of Constantinople church, secondly, the organization cannot cook the world on its own (oil necessary for anointing - only the autocephalous church can cook it) and, third, all conflicts resolved at the level of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

“Three items that take away our autocephalous church rights. We are autocephalous by name, but in fact we are a church dependent on the Patriarchate of Constantinople, ”Filaret emphasized.

It is worth noting that the ROC and the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate warned that the tomos would not give independence, but would only put the church in a position dependent on Constantinople.

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Filaret’s statement will not affect the relationship between Constantinople and CCP, says Denis Denisov, director of the Research Institute for Peacekeeping Initiatives and Conflictology.

“It seems to me that this statement will in no way affect the relations between the so-called Orthodox Church of Ukraine, autocephalous and Constantinople, because it is very beneficial for Constantinople to have a dependent church. This is also the financial receipt of the budget of Constantinople, ”he told RT.

"The struggle for the destruction of the Kiev Patriarchate"

Filaret also stated that, although his structure was included in the MCB, he would not fulfill the proposals set forth in the Tomos.

“Now there is a struggle for the destruction of the Kiev Patriarchate. On what basis? At that time, at the request of the Ecumenical Patriarch, we signed a rejection of the Kyiv Patriarchate. But this basis does not affect the Kyiv Patriarchate, since this decision of the hierarchs must be approved and agreed by the Local Council, ”Filaret added.

At the same time, to the remark of the journalist that this is similar to the next split, Filaret acknowledged the existence of disagreements.

“There is no split, only a different approach. Some want to save the Kiev Patriarchate, while others want to destroy it. We do not split. There are disagreements in the construction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, ”he explained.

Such statements by a person who was originally in the canonical UOC MP, then created a schismatic church, and eventually contributed to the creation of another, they say that these structures are untenable, I am convinced Denisov.

“Such statements of Filaret are, on the one hand, of course, symbolic, but simply once again demonstrate the essence of this citizen, who during his career managed to visit one canonical church and already two schismatic ones. We understand that such statements once again demonstrate the strangeness of creating such a structure. On the other hand, it is necessary to note for myself that this is unlikely to somehow seriously affect the situation, ”he stressed.

• Priests and believers at the "Unification Cathedral" on Sofia Square in Kiev
• RIA News

"The new generation has decided to manage itself"

Filaret said that between him, who was then President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and representatives of various schismatic churches, it was decided that Epiphanius Dumenko would become the head of the new education, but all the levers of control would remain with the leader of the UOC-KP.

“We talked about this with the president, with Epiphanius and at the Council of Bishops, which I refuse, but after receiving the Thomos I will lead this church inside Ukraine,” Filaret said.

Recall, on May 14, the head of the CPU, Epiphanius, stated that the UOC of the Kiev Patriarchate does not exist.

“There is not and never will be a split in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church ... By the beginning of the Unification Cathedral, such structures as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church were dissolved,” he said.

However, a few days before, Filaret said that only he himself can liquidate his church.

“The truth is that the Kyiv Patriarchate is not liquidated. They want to submit this as something that has been liquidated. But the one who created it can eliminate it, ”he emphasized.

The statements of the “patriarch” are connected with this conflict between Filaret and Epiphany, the head of the Center for the Study of the Problems of Religion and Society of the Institute of Europe, RAS, Roman Lunkin is convinced.

“These statements by Filaret are connected with the fact that he was not allowed to go to the leadership of the new local church. In fact, Filaret hoped to be an honorary patriarch and a gray cardinal — after all, to rule, to have a decisive vote within the synod of the local church of Ukraine. But it turned out that the new generation decided to manage itself, ”he told RT.

It should be noted that Vladimir Zelensky, who took office on May 20 as president of Ukraine, avoids discussing issues related to religion and the schism existing in the country. However, earlier, in early April, the representative of his legal team, Irina Venediktova, reported on his support for the PLC.

“For our self-identity, getting a tomos is the most important thing. Vladimir Zelensky will do everything to protect this powerful achievement, ”she cites“ Ukrainian News ”.

Before the inauguration, Zelensky himself held separate meetings with both the head of the PCU, Epiphanius, and the head of the only legitimate Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Onufry.

* Media, recognized as a foreign agent by decision of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation of 05.12.2017.