Ecumenical Patriarchate Clarifies Erroneous Information

In response to erroneous information concerning the relationship between the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople issued the following communique dated August 8, 2000:

“Due to the recent false report published on the Internet stating that the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople allegedly pronounced on July 27, 2000 that the Ukraine is canonically under its jurisdiction, the Holy and Sacred Synod announces that this decision was never made and that this report is completely erroneous. Consequently, the relative publication Ukrainska Slovo [July 27, 2000] and Kirill Frolov’s article in Pravoslavia, July 27, are based on incorrect information.

“The Ecumenical Patriarchate expresses both its sorrow and regret because of the circulation of this inaccurate news, which not only causes division but also conflict between Christians, and they misrepresent and distort the virtuous intentions of those who have sacrificed and labored for the restoration of the unity of Christians, by the removal of al causes that might hinder the attainment of the prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ for those who believe in Him ‘to be one.’”