Patriarchate of Constantinople: "Ukrainian question" is not on the agenda of the Council

The Ukrainian parliament’s message to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople as well as other issues concerning Orthodoxy in Ukraine will not be considered by the Orthodox Council in Crete. This was said by Archbishop Job of Telmessos, who represents the Patriarchate of Constantinople at the Council, to the press service of the Synodal Information and Enlightenment Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in an interview.

"When Patriarch Bartholomew has an official request, it will be discussed on the basis of the proper official procedures - through the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, just as any other major issue," the website quotes Archbishop Job as saying.

"The Ukrainian issue is not on the Council’s agenda and the agenda cannot be changed," Archbishop Job said.

He explained that the Ukrainian Parliament’s message became known from mess media reports.

Recall, the head of the UOC Metropolitan Onufriy, commenting on the appeal of the Verkhovna Rada deputies to Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew, said that "it is a direct violation of the status of relations of the state and the Church. According to our laws, the Church is separated from the state, and the state from the Church."

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