An interview with the radio broadcast “Persona grata” of the Ukrainian radio station Radio Ukraine was given by “Honorable” Patriarch Filaret.
In the interview, Filaret referred to the contents of the Tomos of Autocephaly granted by Ecumenical Patriarchate to Ukraine, stressing that “at the December 15-meeting we were not shown the contents of the Volume. If I knew that the content of the Volume was this, as we found out on January 6, 2019, then we would have denied such a Volume. They tricked us”.
Also, Filaret characterizes as “iconic” the recognition granted by the Tomos of Autocephaly, because, as he notes, “none of the 13 Autocephalous Churches recognizes the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Therefore, to be proud of the fact that we have the Tomos of Autocephaly is not necessary. That misled us”.
Additionally, Filaret stresses that this Status of Autocephaly is not the same as the Status of Autocephaly of the Church of Greece, Romania, Bulgaria etc. “These are completely independent from the Patriarchate of Constantinople; while the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is dependent”.
He underlines that Metropolitan Epiphanius changed his mind. “He promised to be the Primate and represent the Ukrainian Church from the outside. While I will guide the Ukrainian Orthodox Church internally but with him”.
In concluding his interview, Filaret argues that the agreements made before the Tomos, were not legally established, “because I had confidence. But it turns out we are not going to have any trust in human beings”, adding that Metropolitan Epiphanius “betrayed” him.