Commenting on the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew to Ukraine, the head of the DECR of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, recalling the evangelical expression “by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7, 16), stressed: “This shameful visit of Patriarch Bartholomew to Ukraine became a demonstration for the whole world of the fruits of those deeds that he did.”

“Patriarch Bartholomew has arrived in a country where the majority of Orthodox believers do not recognize him as their pastor. He literally had to enter the Verkhovna Rada through the back door, because believers gathered there who protested against his visit,” the hierarch noted.

“Now Patriarch Bartholomew, trying to pass off his wishful thinking, comes to a group of schismatics and says: here is the real Church, and there are just some titular bishops,” Vladyka continued. – The church, in which there are more than 12 thousand parishes, more than 250 monasteries, more than a hundred bishops and millions of believers, is simply ignored by Patriarch Bartholomew, who pretends that it does not exist. This is an absurd and shameful situation, and only one person is guilty of it – Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople,” said the head of the DECR.