OCU comments on participation of UOC official delegation in funeral of Patriarch Elijah II of Georgia

Representatives of the OCU gave an official assessment of the visit of the delegation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to Tbilisi to participate in the funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. The Ternopil Diocese of the OCU called this event a reflection of the “complex configuration of the modern Orthodox world,” where the issues of canonical status and representation remain controversial.

The reason for the comment was the participation of Metropolitan Sergiy of Ternopil and Kremenets, who led the UOC delegation at the mourning events. The OCU emphasized that their representatives were not present at these events, while the UOC, in their opinion, continues to maintain ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.

An official statement published on social media emphasizes that the current situation in Georgia highlights deep contradictions in inter-Orthodox relations. Despite the absence of its representative office in Tbilisi, the OCU declared its prayerful unity with the Georgian people and its intention to closely monitor further developments in church and political events in the region.

Earlier we reported that the hierarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Zenon (Yaradzhuli), sent an official letter to the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, expressing deep condolences on the death of Filaret Denisenko. The bishop thanked the Ukrainian side for the support provided to Georgia after the recent death of Catholicos-Patriarch Elijah II, emphasizing the epoch-making role of both leaders in the history of their churches.