Media: Poroshenko lobbies for banning UOC before Phanar Commission arrival
Media reports have provided insights into the motivation behind the rush by "European Solidarity" to push for a vote on banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
According to a Ukrainian Telegram channel, Petro Poroshenko, leader of "European Solidarity", and his supporters are attempting to disrupt difficult negotiations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. They aim to persuade parliament members to vote on bill 8371, which would effectively ban the activities of the UOC, before the delegation from the Patriarchate of Constantinople arrives.
The media claims that "European Solidarity" is spreading rumors about the creation of a Constantinople Exarchate in Ukraine, only to later reject such a possibility.
Journalists assert that the Ecumenical Patriarchate had planned to send a commission tasked with meeting with leaders and monastics of both the UOC and the OCU, as well as Ukrainian government officials, including the President, to assess the situation and explore new opportunities for dialogue with Metropolitan Onuphry.
However, these plans have been obstructed by Poroshenko-orchestrated OCU lobbyists.
"In short, the commission is indeed coming to Ukraine and will be in Kyiv on August 20-21, consisting of Archbishop Ilarion of Winnipeg, Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, and the Rev. Patriarchal Deacon Epiphanios Kamianovych. This is why Petro Poroshenko and Rostyslav Pavlenko, fearing the loss of their positions and benefits, are urgently demanding the immediate ban of the UOC-MP and insisting that a second Tomos will not happen – all in an effort to influence the situation before the commission arrives," the media reports.
As previously reported by the Union of Orthodox Journalists, a year ago, Dumenko persuaded Patriarch Bartholomew not to send a delegation to Ukraine. However, sources now indicate that Patriarch Bartholomew decided to send the delegation after the number of forcible seizures of UOC churches exceeded reasonable limits.
