Constantinople hierarch pays a visit to unruly Philaret Denisenko

Kiev, May 23, 2019

Photo: cerkva.info Photo: cerkva.info     

Hierarch of the Patriarchate of Constantinople Metropolitan Emmanuel of Gaul met with Philaret Denisenko, the “Honorary Patriarch” of the Ukrainian schismatic church and primate of the still-existing “Kiev Patriarchate” (KP) in Kiev yesterday, reports vimaorthodoxias.gr.

Officially, Met. Emmanuel traveled to Kiev with Deacon Gregorios (Frangakis), the Deputy Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, to celebrate the name’s day of the schismatic primate “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko, though Met. Emmanuel, who chaired the scandalous “unification council” in December, also found time for a three-hour meeting with Denisenko, who has been causing serious waves in the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” (OCU) as of late.

Philaret’s desire to continue serving as an active “Patriarch” and to revive his KP jurisdiction threatens to blossom into a schism in the OCU, which has been marked by divisions and an inability to work together since before its inception. The bishops of the KP and the “Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church” were unable to cooperate and write their own statutes and call their own council, leaving it up to the Holy Synod of Constantinople to handle both tasks.

The “council” itself was a tumultuous affair. Seeing that the proceedings were not going according to plan, Met. Emmanuel and those with him attempted to leave and return to Constantinople, but, as several participants in the “council” have attested, former President Poroshenko ordered the closing of Kiev’s airports so they could not leave.

Romfea reports that the meeting between Philaret and Emmanuel was “cordial” and that Philaret expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Bartholomew for all he has done for the Ukrainian people and for the Patriarchal throne of Constantinople.

Philaret also assured the Phanar representatives that, despite the present problems in the OCU, he continues to support “Met.” Epiphany, who is his spiritual protégé.

His assurances stand in stark contrast to his very public statements as of late that Epiphany and Poroshenko deceived him, having promised that he would continue to lead the church despite the formal election of Epiphany, which has not happened, and that by its tomos of autocephaly handed to Epiphany on January 6, the Patriarchate of Constantinople ensured the Ukrainian nationalist church’s dependence upon Constantinople.

Philaret has openly declared his desire to revive the KP, which still legally exists in the state register despite Philaret’s promise to dissolve it. He has even stated that the OCU’s problems would be solved if Epiphany would just submit to him.

According to the site of the KP, which continues to operate despite the KP officially joining the OCU in December, Philaret stressed that he will continue to do everything “to make the Ukrainian Church the only one and always serve the interests of the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian state” during this time of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The participants in the discussion also touched upon common issues of Church life, including the process of recognition of the autocephaly of the OCU by the other Local Churches. To date, only Constantinople has recognized the OCU as a legitimate Church.

Met. Emmanuel also met with Epiphany Dumenko today, reports Romfea with reference to the Phanar hierarch’s Twitter page.

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5/23/2019

See also
Philaret’s “Kiev Patriarchate” still exists—Ukrainian Ministry of Justice Philaret’s “Kiev Patriarchate” still exists—Ukrainian Ministry of Justice Philaret’s “Kiev Patriarchate” still exists—Ukrainian Ministry of Justice Philaret’s “Kiev Patriarchate” still exists—Ukrainian Ministry of Justice
According to the Ministry of Justice, no one has applied to the state registration authorities to dissolve the KP, and thus, in the eyes of the state, it still exists. Moreover, its website continues to function and Denisenko continues to act on behalf of the KP. The Two-headed Hydra of the Ukrainian Schism and World Orthodoxy The Two-headed Hydra of the Ukrainian Schism and World Orthodoxy
Met. Hilarion (Alfeyev) The Two-headed Hydra of the Ukrainian Schism and World Orthodoxy The Two-headed Hydra of the Ukrainian Schism and World Orthodoxy
Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev)
For the past four months not a single Local Orthodox Church has recognized the act committed by Patriarch Bartholomew in flagrant violation of Church canons. A number of Churches officially expressed their disagreement with this act, as well as their non-recognition of the legalization of the schismatics, and expressed their support for the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church led by Metropolitan Onuphry. Other Churches took time to examine the situation. None of them has supported the lawlessness. Why? Defector bishop Drabinko: Had I known about everything, I might not have gone to the “unification council” Defector bishop Drabinko: Had I known about everything, I might not have gone to the “unification council” Defector bishop Drabinko: Had I known about everything, I might not have gone to the “unification council” Defector bishop Drabinko: Had I known about everything, I might not have gone to the “unification council”
According to the former metropolitan, the conflict embroiling the OCU now actually began on day one at the “unification council.” All of the gathered bishops waited for Philaret and his “Kiev Patriarchate” (KP) bishops who waivered on whether or not to dissolve the KP, as Constantinople required. Philaret: Bishops of schismatic church don’t want to revive “Kiev Patriarchate” because of Moscow influence Philaret: Bishops of schismatic church don’t want to revive “Kiev Patriarchate” because of Moscow influence Philaret: Bishops of schismatic church don’t want to revive “Kiev Patriarchate” because of Moscow influence Philaret: Bishops of schismatic church don’t want to revive “Kiev Patriarchate” because of Moscow influence
However, “Patriarch” Philaret Denisenko now also believes that Moscow is working with the bishops of the schismatic church itself in order to prevent the recreation of the “Kiev Patriarchate” (KP) that he led from 1995 until last December when the KP joined the “Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church” to create the still schismatic OCU. Philaret: Our problems will be solved if Epiphany submits to me Philaret: Our problems will be solved if Epiphany submits to me Philaret: Our problems will be solved if Epiphany submits to me Philaret: Our problems will be solved if Epiphany submits to me
“Patriarch” Philaret Denisenko of the “Kiev Patriarchate” (KP) considered the “Honorary Patriarch” of the new “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” (OCU) published an official appeal “to the entire Ukrainian Orthodox flock” on the KP website yesterday regarding the mounting tensions in the new schismatic church and his desire to revive the KP. Threat of schism consuming Ukrainian schismatic church, Philaret wants to renew the “Kiev Patriarchate” Threat of schism consuming Ukrainian schismatic church, Philaret wants to renew the “Kiev Patriarchate” Threat of schism consuming Ukrainian schismatic church, Philaret wants to renew the “Kiev Patriarchate” Threat of schism consuming Ukrainian schismatic church, Philaret wants to renew the “Kiev Patriarchate”
Now the trouble has boiled over and Philaret has openly declared that he intends to restore the schismatic “Kiev Patriarchate” (KP) and take those hierarchs loyal to him with him. That is, the schismatic OCU, made up of two schismatic bodies, now faces the serious threaten of breaking down into two schismatic groups again. Philaret continues to defy Constantinople—schismatics won’t make foreign parishes comply with tomos Philaret continues to defy Constantinople—schismatics won’t make foreign parishes comply with tomos Philaret continues to defy Constantinople—schismatics won’t make foreign parishes comply with tomos Philaret continues to defy Constantinople—schismatics won’t make foreign parishes comply with tomos
The “hierarchs” and flock of the Kiev Patriarchate (KP) outside of Ukraine cannot be forced to move under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople,” says Philaret Denisenko, the “Honorary Patriarch of All Rus’-Ukraine” of the Ukrainian schismatic church. A Simple “Reading” of the Tomos of Autocephaly A Simple “Reading” of the Tomos of Autocephaly
An Athonite Monk A Simple “Reading” of the Tomos of Autocephaly A Simple “Reading” of the Tomos of Autocephaly
Does anyone wonder what canonical crime these people committed that the Patriarch of Constantinople treated them this way? Maybe they’re guilty of not wanting to become autocephalous and enter into communion with unrepentant schismatics? There is no new church, tomos was given to “Kiev Patriarchate,” Philaret Denisenko declares There is no new church, tomos was given to “Kiev Patriarchate,” Philaret Denisenko declares There is no new church, tomos was given to “Kiev Patriarchate,” Philaret Denisenko declares There is no new church, tomos was given to “Kiev Patriarchate,” Philaret Denisenko declares
Now, perhaps for the first time, Denisenko has stated this conviction publicly—that a new church was not created, but, in fact, the tomos of autocephaly was given to the “Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate.”

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