Phanar hierarch says Patriarchate of Constantinople will not revoke Tomos of OCU

The hierarch of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, noted that Phanar does not intend to reconsider the decision to legalize the OCU and grant the Tomos of autocephaly to Ukrainian schismatics. The hierarch said that the interest of certain parties to the interchurch conflict in such a development is the cause of «spiritual sickness» and «ecclesiological deviation.» The statement of the hierarch was published by the Greek edition «Kathimerini» .

«The true reason for the aggression shown by the Moscow Patriarchate against the Ecumenical Patriarchate and personally Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, unfortunately, lies in spiritual sickness and ecclesiological deviation,» the Metropolitan said.

The hierarch added that despite the pressure, the Patriarchate of Constantinople will not abandon decisions on the Ukrainian church issue. In his opinion, the decision to recognize Ukrainian schismatics was «ecclesiastical» and irreversible.

«The Ecumenical Patriarchate will never change its position on Ukraine and the canonical granting of autocephaly, as this issue has been resolved ecclesiastically and is irreversible,» he added.

Earlier, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon expressed hope for a dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) to achieve the unity of the Church in Ukraine. He emphasized that Constantinople remains open for negotiations, despite Moscow’s reluctance to make contact.