Archimandrite Gabriel (Bunge): U.S. Pressure Led to the Schism in the Ukrainian Church

In a recent interview, the renowned theologian and Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel (Bunge) shared his assessment of the actions of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople regarding the ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine. According to the OrthoChristian publication , Father Gabriel emphasized that he is deeply disappointed by the stance of church hierarchs who have succumbed to external political pressure.

According to the elder, who is personally acquainted with Patriarch Bartholomew, the latter’s actions in establishing the so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” (OCU) did not come as a surprise to him. Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel claims to have information indicating that the patriarch did not act of his own volition, but under powerful influence from the United States, aimed at weakening Russia and severing ties between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Moscow Patriarchate.

Father Gabriel expressed bewilderment as to why church leaders, including Archbishop Jerome of Athens, were unable to show fortitude and refuse to participate in the process that led to the schism. ““Schism is an unforgivable sin,” the elder noted, adding that according to the teachings of the Holy Fathers, this sin cannot be washed away even by the blood of martyrs. Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel concluded that history will pass a harsh judgment on all those involved in these events, emphasizing that the consequences of the current decisions have already been recorded in the pages of church history.

As a reminder, the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Archbishop John, previously spoke out on the Ukrainian church issue. The First Hierarch pointed out that the creation of the OCU has divided global Orthodoxy, noting that the Synod of the Albanian Church has expressed its position on this matter and that it remains unchanged.