Yevstratiy (Zoria): Council is a way to prevent UOC (MP) hierarchs from meeting with the President

Archbishop Yevstratiy (Zoria), Spokesman for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate, explains point by point on his Facebook page why the recent meeting of the hierarchs of the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate with the President was disrupted, and the unannounced beforehand Council of Bishops of the UOC (MP) was assembled.

What happens around the President's meeting with the Bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine?

1. We must not forget that Russia is fighting against Ukraine, and therefore the Head of State must be under special protection. So it is his priority to appoint the place for the meeting.

2. So far, Petro Poroshenko has met with bishops of the UOC-KP and Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The meeting with the episcopate of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine is a logical continuation of this series.

3. Holding the meeting outside of the Lavra was stipulated as the main possibility. However, the Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony Pakanych, who is related to MP Novinsky, specifically sent an invitation to a meeting in the Lavra, although this place was not agreed on at the time of messaging, to make the Head of State comply with their terms. The corresponding letter “leaks” in the media.

4. In such circumstances, the place of the meeting becomes more and more fundamental.

5. When they saw that they failed to coerce the President, the leaders of the Metropolis decided to announce the Council of Bishops at the time when the meeting should begin. I reiterate, its conduct was NOT ANNOUNCED. It seems that the only reason for the sudden convocation of the Council is that according to the Charter, the bishops’ participation therein is compulsory. So the Council is simply a method of keeping bishops inside the Lavra, not allowing them to go out and meet the President on their own.

6. The demonstrative demarche of the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine is intended to demonstrate to everyone that, relying on the “shoulder of Moscow” they openly despise not only Petro Poroshenko, but the President of Ukraine and in his person – the State of which he is Head.

7. The situation is in development and it will be possible to say it only later how the demarche will end.