UOC hierarch: Phanar's "love" for Ukraine is filled with fear of State Dept
Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko). Photo: ruspole.org
On December 17, 2020, Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko) of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol wrote on his Telegram channel that the “love” of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to Ukraine is filled with fear of the US State Department.
Discussing the theme of today's feast of the Great Martyr Barbara, Metropolitan Luke noted that the saint's father “loved his daughter in his own way. But between kindred love and hatred there was only one step distance", and "this so-called ‘love’ became the reason for the brutal murder of his daughter".
“Why did her parent kill her? Because she dared to contradict? Because he was afraid of the emperor and his revenge? Out of fear of losing his position in society, power and money? For everything together! How similar it is to what is happening today,” Vladyka emphasized.
In his opinion, "our ‘mother’ – the Church of Constantinople ‘loves’ us with the same ‘love’ as Barbara's father ‘’loved’ his daughter”.
“This ‘love’ is filled with fear of the US State Department, greed, avarice and hypocrisy. This is ‘love’ with sledgehammers, bars, brass knuckles, bats and other similar "prayer" tools, with which these people come to seize our churches,” the hierarch writes.
He believes that "just like Barbara's father, the Patriarch of Constantinople is ready to destroy us just to please his overseas masters whom he awes".
As reported earlier, the head of the Phanar called the Ukrainians his "beloved people".
Read also
Optina Elders Skete Celebrates Feast Day With Ordinations
On Oct. 22-23, 2025, His Eminence Met. Nicholas, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), celebrated the feast day of the Holy Elders of Optina, in which an ordination and two tonsures took place.
Pat. of Romania Calls EP a 'Testimony to Unity'
Pat. Bartholomew and Pat. Daniel consecrated the National Cathedral's mosaics in Bucharest, with Daniel hailing Bartholomew's presence as "a powerful testimony to the unity of Orthodoxy."
Met. Tikhon: 'Prayer for the Dead is One of the Great Acts of Christian Love'
His Beatitude offered a reflection for the Saturday of St. Demetrius and commemoration of the departed.
St. Jonah Orthodox Church Celebrates Centennial of Patron Saint's Repose with New Ordinations and Plans for a New Temple
Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal, Locum Tenens for ROCOR's Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, leads festal services to mark 100 years since the repose of St. Jonah of Manchuria.
Faithful in Cyprus Publish Open Letter in Support of Met. Tychikos of Paphos
Lay group hails hierarch’s stance on ecclesiological purity as a “patristic confession” and urges prayers for his strength amid ongoing trials.
Miraculous Kursk Root Icon on Visit to Western Europe
The most sacred icon of ROCOR is traveling around the Diocese of Great Britian and Western Europe for eight weeks.