One of the most well-known clerics of the UOC, the winner of the “Voice of the Country” Archpriest Alexander Klymenko in an interview with “Ukrainian Truth” noted that the intervention of Patriarch Bartholomew continues to harm the church issue in Ukraine, and also refuted the imposed myths about “the dependence of the UOC on Moscow.”

“The only thing is when the Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine is elected – according to church law, according to our charter, this Metropolitan must be approved by the Moscow Patriarch, the current Kirill. On the other hand, he cannot do anything but approve. This is a fact that, let’s say, the Russian side also has to put up with,” stated the cleric of the UOC.

He also noted that the OCU is recognized only by churches in the Greek field of influence.

“Neither Moscow, nor we do not recognize, a number of Orthodox autocephalous churches do not recognize. It is recognized only by those churches that are in the so-called “Greek direction”. And let’s not forget that Constantinople – which, in fact, in Turkey itself has up to 5,000 parishioners – Is only such a historical form that now does not carry the grandeur of the past. For me, perhaps this is a strange way to reiterate its importance. Perhaps these are the personal ambitions of Patriarch Bartholomew. But for me it is a fact that all his actions in Ukraine so far bring only harm,” said the cleric of the UOC.

“We start from the foundation: he has the right to interfere in the Ukrainian affairs only if he is allowed to come here. This is the same as what the President of Ukraine will say now: “The territory of the Kuban has traditionally been Ukrainian, so tomorrow I will appoint my governor there and he will rule.” The story is the same in the church. We say: for more than 300 years our church existed quietly without your mother’s care. You are the mother who abandoned us. That is why let us say from this point of view: “We are absolutely independent, you cannot impose your position on us from afar.”