The visit of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to Ukraine on the day of independence may provoke a new round of pressure on the UOC, said UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, during a press conference at the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

“As for the invitation of Patriarch Bartholomew, from the very beginning we spoke about the inexpediency of this visit. This is due to our desire to maintain social stability in our state.

It’s no secret that for the problems that have appeared in recent years in our parishes, when they were seized by force and secretly re-registered, our priests were beaten (although there is no systematic approach, a state order, thank God, from Zelensky, smaller foci are still preserved) we believe that Patriarch Bartholomew is personally responsible for the destabilization and the desire to destroy the canonical Orthodox Church.

This visit can be used as a new impetus to continue the same policy, because the current government, one way or another, is following the trends that were under President Poroshenko. This can create a new round for the capture of our temples and destabilization in the entire society. Therefore, we are against the arrival of Bartholomew,” said the hierarch.