TOMOS WILL NOT INDICATE WHEN UKRAINIANS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS—UPTsKP PRESS SECRETARY
Russian news media, without citing evidence or references, are spreading false rumors about the "new style" church calendar of the united local Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This was written on his Facebook page by the press secretary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kiev Patriarchate, Archbishop Evstraty, UNN reports.
"It is completely obvious that this is an informational diversion which, on the eve of important events, is intended to sow discord and distrust among Orthodox believers in Ukraine. After all, it is known that the idea of a transfer to the new style has not only proponents but also numerous convinced opponents," the archbishop wrote.
The representative of the UPTsKP noted that in the past a number of examples of an administrative introduction of the new style led to division in the churches and even to schism that lasted decades.
"Therefore I want to quite officially report that the question of a transfer to the new calendar will not be raised and will not be considered in the process of unification and in connection with the granting of the tomos. Each autocephalous church decides the calendar question independently and no orders or requirements regarding this have been established in the grants of a tomos that have been provided by the ecumenical patriarchate in the 20th century," he emphasized.
In the archbishop's opinion, Moscow has been spreading the disinformation and "fakes."
"Dissemination of information about the supposed introduction of the "new style" in connection with the granting of a tomos is only an information provocation with Muscovite roots," the hierarch thinks.
He recalled that last year, by a Ukrainian law, 25 December was recognized as a holiday and everybody who wants to celebrate on this day in accordance with his convictions has the possibility to do so, and the question of the tomos and autocephaly is not linked with this. (tr. by PDS, posted 11 November 2018)
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