"I know that in all the local churches are concerned about this development of events, and I want to say that, in fact, it will not benefit anyone, because the schism does not legalize it," Danylevych said.
In his opinion, the actions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople on the establishment of autocephaly in Ukraine can only lead to a break in relations and Eucharistic communion between the churches.
READ MORE: Russian Church Condemns Constantinople's Moves Toward Schism
"It will breed a schism, and everyone will lose from this," he said.
"Because no one wants to enter this conflict, that is, there will not be a real recognition," Danylevych said.
Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem has expressed his support to the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who, during a meeting with Ukrainian pilgrims led by Metropolitan Luka of Zaporizhzhya and Melitopol, urged them to "hold on to their leader."
In addition, Archbishop Joachim of the Church of Czech Lands and Slovakia, wished Metropolitan Onufry and all his flock of firmness "in all trials."
This decision has been sharply condemned by the Moscow Patriarchate, which called it an invasion of the canonical territory of another local church.
Metropolitan Hilarion, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, said that the Moscow Patriarchate would break off the Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople if they granted autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church.
