In the Fener Greek Patriarchate, there are fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to take revenge from the "Ukrainian Orthodox Church", which declared its independence from the Moscow Patriarchate in December 2018.
Patriarchate circles see Russia's victory in this war as an undesirable nightmare.
IF RUSSIA WINS THE WAR, SOME SCENARIOS MAY BE REALIZED
According to some Orthodox religious circles, if Russia wins the war, the following scenarios may occur for the independent "Ukrainian Orthodox Church":
-Putin can exert great pressure on the Ukrainian people to come under the control of the Moscow Patriarchate.
-Putin may recognize the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which Moscow does not recognize, on the condition that a new election is held for the Metropolitan of Kyiv. In this way, he can insist on the election of a candidate that Moscow wants, not the Fener Patriarchate.
-Putin may want some regions in Ukraine to be attached to the Moscow Patriarchate and ask Fener to accept this.
ALLEGING ASSASSINATION OF METROPOLITE
The leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, whose independence the Fener Patriarchate recognizes, the leader of the Kyiv Metropolitan Epifanios, said that after the start of the war, the Russians tried to enter the cathedral church of Sophia in Kiev three times to find him.
"I learned from the foreign services that I was fifth on the Russian execution list," said Epifanios, who was hiding in an unknown place under tight guard.
Meanwhile, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy recently called Patriarch Bartholomew and said, "I ask your prayers for my country."
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church was affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate from the 17th century until 2018. Two churches in Ukraine applied to the Fener Patriarchate in 2018 and demanded separation from the Moscow Church. The Moscow Patriarchate reacted very harshly when Fener recognized the "Independent Orthodox Church". Moscow Patriarch Kirill had even banned the name of the Fener Patriarch in their churches.