The head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, named the Churches which are considering the issue of recognizing the OCU. According to the Ukrainian church primate, the recent ROC “invasion” of Africa may influence the process of recognition of the Ukrainian Church by other local churches.
“..Other churches that are currently analyzing the issue, reflecting on it, will take into account these actions (ROC invasion of Africa – ed.), which are now aimed at splitting Orthodoxy… Now the issue is on the agenda of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the churches of Bulgaria, Georgia, Albania, Jerusalem, and others. They are waiting out. That is why aggressive actions by the ROC will contribute to the recognition of the tomos of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church because such lawlessness cannot be supported by other churches. This is a violation of the canonical order of the church, which has existed for more than 1,500 years,” Metropolitan Epifaniy told DW in an interview.
The OCU leader added that it is still difficult to predict the exact time of OCU recognition by other churches, but “with God’s help,” in the coming years the OCU will gain such recognition.
“This is a matter of the near future,” said Metropolitan Epifaniy.
Earlier, marking an International Thank You Day, Metropolitan Epifaniy explained what it means to be grateful.
The head of the OCU also said that forces affiliated with Russia fear that most parishes will join the OCU and that Moscow will thus lose its influence.
