In Ukraine, the exorbitant ambitions of the authorities translate into attempts to create a “pocket church,” and the ambitions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate into attempts to have a large local church “to strengthen its position in Eastern Europe and the countries of Europe.” from the east”. the former USSR.
For both, it is important to “expel, first of all, from Ukraine the Russian Orthodox Church, which claims to have primacy in world Orthodoxy,” Askaldovich wrote in an article published on the Izvestia website.
The diplomat also recalled that after the delivery of the “tomes” to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), the Patriarchate of Constantinople “focused its efforts on taking charge of small autocephalous Orthodox churches in the Baltic States.”
According to the ambassador, “the canons of the Church, the commandments of Christ: do no evil, have been forgotten,” and ordinary people, parishioners and priests faithful to their pastoral mission have become victims of political games.
