Only the Church is able to harmonize hostile parties in Ukraine, – expert
"The UOC is necessary for the healing of our society," the publicist believes. “The Church is not a party to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and it does not join any a party to the conflict. Let me remind you that on May 9, 2015, His Beatitude Onufry did not rise in the Verkhovna Rada, when the names of those who died during the military conflict were read there. His press office explained: "There can be no justification for fueling the war, which daily takes the lives of not only military but also defenseless civilians of Ukraine, including children." Why was this great feat of civic courage important? Because the words of His Beatitude were heard in both controlled and uncontrolled territories. And this means our people can expect that in the world of chaos in which Ukraine has plunged, there is an island of calm and faith that one can trust."
The TV presenter stressed that this is not only the position of the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine, but the whole Ecumenical Orthodox Church is against the war.
"Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said in July 2017, "We pray for peace in Ukraine, we pray for the end of the fratricidal war," Pikhovshek recalled. “In the epicenter of the conflict, his pastoral ministry is continued by Vladyka Mitrofan, a member of the Holy Synod of the UOC, Metropolitan of Lugansk and Alchevsk. He said, "Without mutual forgiveness and without the love of Christ, we cannot overcome any disagreements in this war. It is necessary that Donbas ask forgiveness from Kiev, Kiev – from Donbas, and get reconciled in the Spirit of Christ's Love. You can find this phrase naive. But it is clear that the Church will uphold this position. Sooner or later this war will end, and then the work of our Church will be needed, for there is no one else to work on reconciliation."
Read also
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".
18th-century gates of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra presented in London
State art historians have identified masterpieces by Kyiv goldsmiths in London.
In mosque, OCU "bishop" and DESS experts dine at iftar during Ramadan
At an iftar in Kyiv, authors of expert assessments against the UOC were awarded Islamic orders in the presence of the deputy head of DESS and a "hierarch" of Dumenko's structure.