The canonical subversion of the "signatories"

The reactionary community “Vesely Pop”, which is administered by the well-known “Pinchuk’s signatories”, has published its own thoughts on whether it is possible to create an exarchate for the UOC within the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Characteristically, their options for the development of events in this matter coincide with the assumptions that we expressed a week ago in a publication on this topic. Of all the options they gave, the one that caught our attention the most was the one we would call “canonical sabotage”.

So, what do the “merry popes” propose. Obviously realizing that Patriarch Bartholomew is not ready to simply launch the project “Exarchate for the UOC”, the “signatories” are going to take him by force. How? And very simply! By putting Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Onufry in a desperate situation by co-serving with Bishop Michael of Comania in St. Andrew’s Church. Although it is an adventurous step, it is likely that this is exactly what will happen.

Here is what they write: “What will Metropolitan Onufry and Patriarch Bartholomew do when several dozen priests of the UOC gather in St. Andrew’s Cathedral, serve with Exarch Michael and publicly recognize Bartholomew as their patriarch? Of course, Metropolitan Onufry will immediately illegally ban them from serving. And what will Patriarch Bartholomew do after that? Will he push them into the OCU? Will he pretend that this is not his problem? Of course not. He will embrace the priests with fatherly love and say: “What should I do with you? Here is a temporary bishop for you in Ukraine. Pray, and then somehow it will happen.” And it will not be “somehow”, but there will be a new jurisdiction, which will gain power very quickly. And there will be healthy competition.

First, let us remind readers that the UOC has officially broken Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. That is, the “merry popes” are right that if they enter into communion with the Phanar exarch in Ukraine, they will be banned from serving. And one and the other has already taken place over the past few years, except that in the past, when priests of the UOC decided to take such a step, they immediately switched to the OCU. Here a slightly different option is proposed. They enter into communion with the Phanar without establishing ties with the OCU.

In fact, one cannot but agree that this option is brilliant in its simplicity. In fact, Exarch Anishchenko, of course, will not be able to refuse several dozen UOC priests in communion, since, most likely, it was he who planted the idea to the “signatories”. In turn, Metropolitan Onuphrius will not be able not to forbid them from serving, because if he does not do this for a few dozen people, it will be too obvious and will lead to outright discord. Anyone after such a thing will be able to say: “They can, but we can not?”.

In this case, the position of the head of the Phanar remains not completely clear. We cannot be 100% sure that he will react exactly as the “signatories” suggest. However, this sacral “dozens of people asked”, will actually be able to influence Patriarch Bartholomew. Such precedents are already in place, and in view of the obvious plans for expansion in the Baltics and Montenegro,… If the barn burns down, so does the house! After all, if Patriarch Bartholomew does not respond to the requests of his Ukrainian “janissaries”, it will look at least strange. Especially in the present time.