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ePoshta |17Jun2012 | Editorial (Myroslava Oleksiuk)
http://www.eposhta.com/newsmagazine/ePOSHTA_120617_CanadaUS.html#ed1
The Hidden agenda becomes obvious: the real reason why
the UOC-KP will never be welcomed into the EP
The visit of both His Holiness Patriarch Filaret (UOC-KP) and His
Holiness Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Patriarch of the Ukrainian Catholic Greek
Church, as the heads of their respective churches in Ukraine, was
considered to be a joyous event, which ePOSHTA had covered in a
previous issue. "Камо
грядеш, діаспорна православна церкво?"
http://www.eposhta.com/newsmagazine/ePOSHTA_120428_CanadaUS.html#ed31 .
As mentioned previously, Patriarch Filaret’s visit has opened a cache
of problems in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church beyond the borders of
Ukraine itself, which have been accumulating during the years since
Ukraine’s declaration of independence. What has recently come
to light, is proof that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada,
whether consciously or not, is supporting Moscow in its attempts to
regain power over all the Orthodox churches in Ukraine. By being united
with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its leader, His Holiness
Bartholomew, they are tightening the noose around the UOC of
the Kyiv Patriarchate and handing it right into the hands of not only
the Moscow Patriarchate but into the hands of Russia’s
current government. Their objective, as always, has been the
complete destruction of the Ukrainian nation and its subservient return
to the powers of Moscow.
Let us not forget, that the hierarchy of the Moscow
Patriarchate has always served the interests of the Kremlin. As an
instrument of the former Soviet government, the Moscow Patriarchate
supported the
governments mandate to physically, mentally and emotionally destroy the
peoples under their domain: through continuous repression,
deportations, murders, the creation of the Holodomor famine, the wiping
out of national memory, etc. It should be noted that each of the Moscow
patriarchs was at the service of Russia’s intelligence services. In
this context, the late Patriarch Alexei was no exception and likewise
the present Patriarch Kirill.
The post World War II generation, born beyond the borders of
Ukraine, carry with them an unprecedented patriotism for the homeland
of their forefathers. The relatively young bishops who today head the
UOC abroad could not be uninformed about the Moscow patriarchs’ black
coin. In connection with the scandal that has arisen within the
diaspora Orthodoxy, a seditious thought creeps in: is it possible that
all these anti-Ukrainian tumultuous years are being managed by Moscow’s
agents, who have successfully infiltrated the ranks of the highest
church notables and who skillfully manipulate each of them?
The following excerpt from correspondence between the
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Patriarch Aleksei, has awoken the
Ukrainian Diaspora with a jolt. And not unlike bees in a hive where an
invasive hand tries to remove the golden honey, they, too, are angry.
To understand all the underground currents between the not
inclined to be supportive Constantinople to Orthodox Ukrainian
Konstantynopolem and the hostile to them Moscow, an extract is provided
from a unique correspondence between the Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew and Patriarch Alexei of Moscow. (Note that the current
Patriarch Kirill is implementing a much tougher policy towards Ukraine
and the Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate, than its predecessor
Alexei.):
“Of course to a
certain extent we can comprehend the
fears Your Beatitude and your Holy Synod have as to the consequences
which the settlement of the Ukrainians in the Diaspora could eventually
have had on the general situation in Ukraine, if proper care had not
been taken.
In this regard we would like to assure you that the induction
of the Ukrainian communities into the canonical order of the Orthodox
Church by receiving them under the omophorion of the Ecumenical
Patriarch will, we believe, finally prove to be beneficial for the
relationship between the Most Holy Church of Russia and the faithful in
Ukraine.
This is so because on the one hand those received were
obligated to formally declare that they will not seek autocephaly of
the Ukrainian church, or even a part of it, through known methods
employed by the “autocephalists” who operate in every way possible.”
(Page 3 of a July 11, 1995 letter
from Patriarch Bartholomew to Patriarch Alexei)
It should not be a surprise that the Ukrainian Orthodox
community in
Canada is buzzing like bees in a disturbed hive. Why was Patriarch
Filaret of the UOC-KP welcomed with the highest honors in the churches
of the the Greek Catholics of Toronto? With their orders why did the
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Yuri forbid Orthodox
believers to meet with the head of the UOC-KP, which has always opposed
the assault of Moscow ‘batiushky’? It is these questions that were
raised by the Orthodox community of St. Volodymyr (Toronto) at a
meeting with the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church of Canada Yuri
(Kalishchuk). It must be said that there was no end to the accusations
addressed to the senior hierarch. There were very many speakers, their
demands were most categorical. Generally speaking, the position of
those present was well-expressed by a member of the Brotherhood of St.
Andrew, Leonid Lishchyna:
"For most members of the
St. Volodymyr
Cathedral these orders (Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan George)
are unacceptable. This majority is convinced that our subordination to
Constantinople should be anulled and that UOCC must return to the
status that existed prior to 1990. Then our church was free and no one
outside of Canada ordered whom we cannot welcome in our cathedral."
We can only forsee how events will develop further around the
scandalous position of diaspora’s Orthodox Church hierarchs.
There are a few possible solutions. Firstly, a lion’s share of the
diaspora UOC could secede and become independent or even enter into the
fold of the UOC-KP. In this case the diaspora UOC will significantly
lose its influence and become smaller. The second option (albeit most
unrealistic), the UOCC’s position is accepted and everything settles
down. And the third, in the short or longer term, the possible
association with the UOC-KP and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic
Patriarchate in order to put Ukraine on a united spiritual path. There
is more and more talk about this in Ukraine. Indirect evidence of this
intent was the joint trip to Canada of Patriarch Filaret and Patriarch
Sviatoslav Shevchuk. (Note that the current repute of the Ukrainian
Greek Catholic Church has soared, resulting in its welling by formerly
Orthodox of the Moscow Patriarchy, especially in Kyiv.) We believe that
the Orthodox Church abroad will follow its brethren in Ukraine. In this
case the hierarchs of the diaspora UOC will have the
opportunity to be left alone with their pro-Moscow sympathies, however,
without their flock.
However, there is still time for the hierarchs of the UOCC in
the diaspora to listen to the voice of the faithful and to break the
union with Constantinople to finally work on the strengthening of
Ukraine, the nationally meaningful Ukrainian churches and the welfare
of the Ukrainian people throughout the world.
This editorial first appeared
in Ukrainian http://www.eposhta.com/newsmagazine/ePOSHTA_120527_CanadaUS.html#ed31