Rus. Patriarch Rips UGCC for Russophobic Words; Says It Hampers Russian Church-Vatican Rapport

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sharply criticized the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) yesterday, accusing it of using Russophobic slogans against the Russian Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church Info blog reports today (May 30, 2014).

"The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is engaging in direct political activities, unfortunately, using sharp Russophobic slogans and statements and making sharp statements against the Russian Orthodox Church in its public declarations," the patriarch said at a meeting in the Russian Foreign Ministry yesterday.

Patriarch Kirill added that "a very sad shadow" has been cast on the relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican.

Archbishop Svyatoslav Shevchuk -- the head of the UGCC -- has recently made very sharp statements against Russia. Greek Catholic worshipers -- often referred to as Uniates in several Eastern European nations -- recognize the pope as their church leader, but their church services are conducted in the tradition of the Greek Orthodox Church, rather than the Roman Catholic Church.