DISINFO: Ukrainian autocephalous church is a US project
SUMMARY
It is no secret that the creation of this schismatic church formation in Ukraine is an American project aimed at undermining the position of the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine – the Ukrainian Orthodox Church [of the Moscow Patriarchy].
RESPONSE
A conspiracy theory presented without any evidence. Pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets have frequently attacked the establishment of an autocephalous Ukrainian church. The Constantinople Patriarchy, not the US, decided to grant the autocephaly to the Ukrainian church. The final decision was made in January 2019, when all members of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate signed off the Tomos of autocephaly. The signing of the Tomos happened after months of careful preparations and considerations by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Synod.