The Moscow Patriarchate has issued a strong denunciation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in response to the recent adoption of a law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In a statement from the Holy Synod, the Moscow Patriarchate condemned what it described as a “witch hunt” and directly blamed Patriarch Bartholomew for exacerbating the ecclesiastical schism in Ukraine.
“With deep sorrow, we acknowledge the destructive role played in these developments by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Hierarchs who support him,” the statement declared. It criticized their “one-sided, hasty, and canonically unsound stance,” accusing them of intensifying, rather than healing, the divisions within the Ukrainian Church. The Moscow Patriarchate claimed that those recognized by the Phanar as the legitimate church leaders in Ukraine were the same individuals who ardently advocated for the law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The statement also accused Patriarch Bartholomew of endorsing the prosecution and arrests of Ukrainian Orthodox clergy, comparing his actions to those of historical figures who persecuted religious leaders. It further alleged that Bartholomew bears personal responsibility for what it described as the “persecution of believers” in Ukraine, orchestrated by state authorities with the goal of “crucifying and destroying” the canonical Church.
The Moscow Patriarchate’s statement pointed to a coalition of “senior government officials, MPs, radical politicians, and public figures,” including members of schismatic organizations and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, as the driving force behind the new law. According to the Moscow Patriarchate, the purpose of this legislation is to eliminate the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and force its faithful to join other religious organizations.
The statement drew parallels between the current situation and the religious repression of the Soviet era, as well as the destruction of the Albanian Orthodox Church under the regime of Enver Hoxha in the 1960s. It reminded the international community that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has repeatedly raised concerns about the persecution of Ukrainian Orthodox believers with organizations like the United Nations, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe.
The Moscow Patriarchate criticized the West for ignoring the violations of religious rights in Ukraine, despite recognition by some experts and human rights organizations. It described the new law as incompatible with the rule of law and as a political tool designed to legitimize the destruction of the country’s largest religious community.
The statement also highlighted an ongoing anti-church campaign by Ukrainian media, aimed at discrediting the “canonical” Orthodox Church under Metropolitan Onufriy, which it claimed has led to the illegal seizure of church property. Despite these challenges, the Moscow Patriarchate asserted that the political leadership in Ukraine felt compelled to take the drastic step of banning the Church entirely.
Translated from Russian by: Konstantinos Menyktas
