The chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthoniy of Borispol (pictured), said that “our faithful feel betrayed” by the Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople who granted independence to the schismatic Filaret group.
Talking to Romfea.gr, Anthoniy said that the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops’ Council re-affirmed the Church's internal unity and communion with the Moscow Patriarchate on November 13.
Only Metropolitan Simeon of Vinnitsa refused to sign the decision, but after being confronted with strong opposition from his clergy and faithful, he had to declare that the declaration of unity was also valid for his diocese.
Initially, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had promised to Bartholomew that 20 to 25 bishops would join the Filaret group.
Anthony accuses the [bought] media and the [corrupt] Ukrainian government to promote the schismatic Filaret group. But, “‘Constantinopolitan autocephaly’ is not finding support among our faithful.”
Therefore, Poroshenko is …More