Bishop Nathanael of Volyn and Lutsk: UOC is independent: its link to Moscow Patriarchate is prayerful

Ukrainian Orthodox Church is independent and has wide autonomy. Differences in the affiliation to whatever Patriarchate are slight. It was said by ruling archbishop of Volyn UOC eparchy bishop Nathanael in the live program “Opposite View Live” on the TV channel “Nova Volyn”, reports the site of Volyn eparchy.

“An official name of our Church is Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We have a devotional unity with the Moscow Patriarchate, mentioning the Patriarch’s name in our prayers in conformity with the rules. Yet there is no “dependence” we are sometimes ascribed to,” explained His Eminence Nathanael to viewers.

When this issue is raised, one needs to understand the laws of worship service, the Symbol of Faith, literally “I believe in One Holy Catholic (= Conciliar) Apostolic Church.” The essence of any Orthodox Church is its belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ. The affiliation to any Patriarchate should not be taken in a political sense.

He added that from the angle of Orthodoxy other confessions which consider themselves Orthodox are believed to be schismatic. “If we speak about faith in One Holy Apostolic Church we have just ONE, there cannot be many churches by definition, and we continually pray and wish other schismatic denominations could return to Christ Church,” concluded Bishop Nathanael.

Read also

Priest charged with desertion freed after faithful raise bail

Archpriest Vitaliy Agafonov, a cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has been released after bail was posted with funds raised by the faithful.

UOC clergy and laity from several eparchies donate blood for wounded soldiers

Clergy and Orthodox youth of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church donated blood for wounded military personnel.

UOC faithful in Kozelshchansk hold procession with icon of the Mother of God

Pilgrims and clergy of the Poltava Eparchy prayed at the Kozelshchansk Monastery and took part in a procession around the church with the wonderworking icon.

Hearing in Metropolitan Theodosiy’s сase postponed after “victim” no-show

A scheduled hearing at the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Court in the case against the ruling bishop of the Cherkasy Eparchy was postponed after OCU chaplain Nazariy Zasansky failed to appear.

Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi: The time has come to build the Third Temple

The spiritual leader of Ukraine’s Jewish community commented on Tucker Carlson’s claims about the religious motives behind the war in the Middle East.

US bars removal of children from parents who reject gender transition

U.S. authorities have affirmed the right of families to raise their children in accordance with their religious convictions and biblical understanding of sex.