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# Abp. Elpidophoros Criticizes UOC Over Non-Commemoration
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/86247-abp-elpidophoros-criticizes-uoc-over-non-commemoration/
- Published: 2026-01-27T17:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-23T16:48:16.000Z
- Description: Abp. Elpidophoros challenged the UOC’s canonical status over its refusal to commemorate Patr. Kirill and its stance toward Patr. Bartholomew.
- Author: Tobias Straney
- Tags: #Category: News, Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis), Patriarch Bartholomew, Patriarch Kirill, UOC

**NEW YORK —** Abp. Elpidophoros, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOARCH) under the Ecumenical Patriarchate, criticized the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) for discontinuing the commemoration of Moscow Patriarch Kirill, in an [interview with Veche](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZuYFkovH88).

Questioning the UOC’s canonical claims, the Archbishop said that its hierarchy, including Metr. Onuphry, undermines its own status by refusing commemoration. “Since these hierarchs, and possibly even Metr. Onuphry himself, refuse to commemorate the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, how can they claim that they are a canonical Church?” he asked. “How can one be a canonical Church if one commemorates no one?”

[![](https://uoj.news/content/images/2026/09/86247-abp-elpidophoros-criticizes-uoc-over-non-commemoration-image.jpg)On this topicNew York Cathedral to Host Ecumenical Prayer Service for Christian Unity](https://uoj.news/news/86238-new-york-cathedral-to-host-ecumenical-prayer-service-for-christian-unity/)

Abp. Elpidophoros further faulted the UOC leadership for disregarding the authority of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, whom he described as “the only patriarch in the Orthodox world who, by history and the canons of the Ecumenical Councils, has the right to grant you canonical status.”

Previously, the [UOJ reported](https://uoj.news/news/85884-abp-elpidophoros-calls-faithful-to-compassion-and-charity-during-nativity/) that Abp. Elpidophoros called the faithful to compassion and charity during Nativity.