Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanych), chancellor of the UOC-MP, accused the Ecumenical Patriarch that the Tomos he provided to the Ukrainian Church brought grief and suffering to the faithful of the Moscow Patriarchate.
The hierarch of the UOC-MP wrote about this on his Facebook page.
Reflecting on the upcoming arrival of Patriarch Bartholomew in Ukraine, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanych) concluded that the "head of the Phanar" would have a rich program here, "densely seasoned with political and ideological moments."
"But it would be nice if a foreign guest, instead of official receptions or participation in mass events organized specifically for him, could consistently find himself in several localities of Ukraine for at least a few minutes."
The Metropolitan of the UOC-MP suggested that the "head of the Phanar" come to a place where there are property conflicts between the faithful of the UOC-MP and the OCU.
According to the hierarch of the UOC-MP, the blame for these confrontations lies with the Ecumenical Patriarch, and his visit to Ukraine will give a new impetus to these confrontations.
Note that during a meeting with Prime Minister Shmygal, the Ecumenical Patriarch said that he would pay an official visit to Ukraine on the Independence Day of Ukraine in August next year, responding to the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The UOC-MP has repeatedly criticized the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew.
Instead, the OCU said that it is not the business of the Moscow Patriarchate to tell Orthodox believers in Ukraine which hierarchs to invite to their country.