Sviatoslav Shevchuk calls Phanar Mother Church for Uniates
Head of the UGCC Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Photo: news.ugcc.ua
The Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk said that although the Uniates are not Greeks, they take their faith and theological traditions from Byzantium, therefore Constantinople is the Mother Church for them.
Shevchuk explained such an unexpected interpretation of interfaith relations with the thesis which is not the first time he is trying to promote to the masses – that the UGCC allegedly originates in 988 when the Holy Prince Vladimir baptized Kievan Rus’.
“This (the adoption of Christianity by Rus’ – Ed.) happened before the Great Schism between West and East, which resulted in the birth of the Catholic and Orthodox Church,” he told the Brazilian newspaper “Gazeta do Povo”. “We received our faith from Constantinople, and from this Mother Church came our identity, our tradition and our rites, which include not only the ceremony but the theological and liturgical traditions, our cults and the canonical succession of bishops.”
On the website of the publication, this article is available for a fee, and on the official website of the UGCC it is published only in the English version.
As reported earlier, the UGCC adopted an updated “Ecumenical Concept”.
Read also
ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill
Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown
Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.
Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions
A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.
Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law
Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.
Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment
The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.
Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful
Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.