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Patriarch Bartholomew’s arrival to Ukraine may launch persecutions against the UOC, canonical church official believes

Moscow, December 2, Interfax - The Ukrainian Orthodox Church official believes that Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to the country may result in a new round of persecutions against the believers of the canonical Church.

"Moreover, the arrival of the Phanar head to Ukraine can give a new impetus to the mentioned processes (persecutions of believers - IF). However, this should not frighten us. The Church has passed other trials. And it always came out of them as a winner, " UOC administrator Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary wrote on Facebook.

Patriarch Bartholomew announced his intention to visit Ukraine in August 2021, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of independence. Thus, he responded to the invitation from President Vladimir Zelensky.

However, the canonical UOC official expressed the opinion that it would be good if the distinguished guest, instead of official receptions or participation in mass events organized "especially for him", could meet at least for a few minutes with UOC believers who suffered from schismatics.

"Would the patriarch be able to look directly into the eyes of the believers who were severely beaten during the seizure of the Church in the village of Katerynovka in the Ternopol Region? Or would he be able to confidently say that he brought peace to the church life of Ukraine with his Tomos, in front of the family of the deceased Archpriest Leonid Delikatny from the village of Zadubrovka, the Chernovtsy Region, whose health was irrevocably undermined by endless attacks on him and his community by the OCU followers?" the metropolitan asks.

According to him, there are hundreds of such questions, since there are hundreds of such cases and incidents of human grief, pain and suffering.

"And, the lion's share of responsibility for them lies with Patriarch Bartholomew, who, in pursuit of unlimited power, legalized the Ukrainian schism and provoked a powerful wave of pressure and persecutions against the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," Metropolitan Anthony believes.

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