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    Constantinople would gladly welcome UOC-MP if delegation decided to come – exarch

    Despite the fact that the UOC-MP is part of the Russian Orthodox Church, which unilaterally severed communication with Constantinople, direct dialogue is possible.

    That’s according to the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Ukraine, Bishop Michael (Anishchenko) of Koman, who gave an interview to lb.ua.

    Asked to comment on the UOC-MP’s seeming willingness to renew communication with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and whether they should somehow explain why they changed their mind, as well as to repent, the exarch said: “It is impossible to give an answer for someone else. Each person is individual. But as I see it, first of all we need to sit down and ask ourselves the question: what do we want? Do we want to preserve our positions, wealth, office, and authority, or do we seek benefits for the Church and the people? Benefit for the Church, for the people is primary, it precedes all positions, private interests, etc. A person should set priorities correctly.”

    “The situation has developed this way, so what? It needs to be addressed,” said Bishop Michael.

    “Mother Church of Constantinople has experience gained over millennia in communicating with everyone. They’ve seen it all – ecumenical councils and heresies. Let’s reflect a little on the past and look at a more global history than our local one. For example, a heresy arises in a large area across ​​different states. Everyone is arguing, judging each other, saying they don’t want to communicate anumore. But then eventually some dialogue begins…”

    So, if everyone is fighting, this isn’t normal. People need to speak, to somehow convince, try to understand each other in order to achieve unity. Beliefs are fundamental truths. On the part of our brothers from the MP, there are no fundamental objections, that is, the dogmatics remain unchanged, the exarch believes.

    Asked to suggest what would happen if the UOC delegation came to Constantinople, Bishop Michael said the latter would “gladly welcome” them.

    “But can they act independently, that is, are they independent actors? If, from the point of view of canon law, they are part of the Russian Orthodox Church, they cannot pursue an independent foreign policy,” the journalist asked the exarch.

    “I don’t undertake to predict… They are united around their superior in the person of Metropolitan Onufriy. That is, he expresses the position of the church community he leads. They will welcome him, they will talk to him… But unfortunately, I cannot answer your broader question,” Bishop Michael said. “…And before that, they could take the first step — revoke the decision of their Synod, which was handed down to them from above, on severing Eucharistic communication.”

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