Invited by Poroshenko, Constantinople delegation to attend 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus festivities

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the first persons of other Local Orthodox Churches ignored the invitation of the UOC-MP to attend celebrations of the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine. However, Ecumenical Patriarch did not reject the one from Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko – the delegation from the Mother Church will visit festivities in Ukraine.

Other Local Orthodox Churches, in order to comply with the already established Church-diplomatic protocol, will send their delegations to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) at the lowest possible rank. Religious scholar Oleksandr Sagan wrote about it on LB.ua.

The date on which the Tomos is to be possibly revived -- the celebration of the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine which is usually held on July 28 (the day of the Holy Apostolic Prince Volodymyr the Great) -- was announced by Ukraine’s President, which led to the mobilization of all Russophile forces.

“Rescuer of Homeland” Vadim Novinsky understands literally the calls of the Moscow Metropolis “to fight against autocephaly to blood”. According to the instructions in the dioceses, thousands of believers will be brought not only from the regions of Ukraine, but also -- under the pretext of a pilgrimage to the Kyivan Lavra -- from the Russian lands (some of the “God-loving” Russian grandmothers have been “praying” already for a week in Kyiv, waiting for the “festivities”).

However, the plans were broken by the fact that Tomos is not ready yet, and, therefore, there is nothing to oppose. The Patriarchate of Constantinople has wisely paused. From one side, it will allow it to see the power of resistance to the Tomos from inside Ukraine. From another side, it will observe how other Local Orthodox Churches will respond to the position of the Ecumenical Patriarch on the Ukrainian question. The indicators are very simple: the number of participants in the procession (this year, the Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church will hold its religious procession) and the level of provocations during their conduct, as well as the number and level of representation of the delegations of the Orthodox Churches that will come to Kyiv at the invitation of the UOC-MP.