Greek media сite UOC hierarch’s call to cancel Phanar head’s visit

Vladimir Zelensky and Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: tass.ru

On June 15, 2021, the Greek edition “Romfea” published the material about the prayer standing of the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the walls of the Verkhovna Rada, citing the words of Archbishop Nikolai (Pochtovyi) with an appeal to the President of Ukraine to withdraw the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew to the country.

In the article titled “Thousands of believers demand an end to the persecution of the Church of Ukraine”, the resource informed its Greek-speaking readers that about 20,000 UOC believers gathered outside the Ukrainian Parliament in Kyiv and the Office of the President of Ukraine.

“Romfea” also quoted the words of Archbishop Nikolai (Pochtovyi) of Vasylkiv, who said that believers came to the building of the Verkhovna Rada "to draw attention to the fact that persecution on the religious ground continues in Central Europe in the 21st century".

Further, the publication referred to the appeal of Archbishop Nikolai to President Zelensky with a call to withdraw the invitation for Patriarch Bartholomew to visit Ukraine: “We ask you to withdraw the invitation for Patriarch Bartholomew – he is not the head of our Church, not even an official representative of the state from which he comes from. This (the bestowal of the Tomos to the OCU – Ed.) did not bring peace, unity to the Ukrainian Orthodox community. For the sake of peace in Ukraine, for the sake of religious peace, we ask you! We pray for our Ukrainian state, for our Church and give our lives for peace in Ukraine, we hope that you will hear us."

As reported, Vladimir Zelensky invited Patriarch Bartholomew to Ukraine for the Day of Independence of Ukraine.

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