UOC hierarch explains why the canonical Church is being persecuted

Bishop Alexis of Voznesensk and Pervomaisk: the UOC is undergoing persecution, because in its churches there is the grace of the Holy Spirit

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is undergoing attacks and persecutions because in its temples there is the grace of the Holy Spirit. This was said by Bishop Alexis of Voznesensk and Pervomaisk in the sermon during the Liturgy at the St Barbara Church of Pervomaisk, reports "Orthodox Life".

"We see today how many churches and denominations there are in Ukraine. But it is to the True Orthodox Church, where the grace of the Holy Spirit is present, that Satan rises up more ... Despite the titles and names with which people reward themselves, as, for example, the former Metropolitan Filaret (Denisenko) of Kiev and Galich, they do not have the Holy Spirit in their Churches. At a time when our country has weakened, when the government is squandering our already scarce material resources, they are also trying to divide the Church," Bishop Alexis said.

He recalled that today the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has the rights of broad autonomy, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine as Primate is free and independent in his decisions.

"Our Church is self-governing, independent of anyone. We are part of the Russian Orthodox Church – neither of Moscow, nor of the Russian Federation, but of Kievan Rus’. This Church includes parishes from more than 140 countries," Bishop Alexis said.

Referring to the recent appointment of the exarchs of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to the canonical territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the hierarch said that Phanar thus ignored "our canonical, legal, apostolic rights".

"There is a schism in the Church," said Vladyka Alexis.

The bishop called on Orthodox Christians to attend divine services and receive Holy Communion "as long as there is a possibility".

"I said before: while there is a possibility to go to the temples – do it, receive communion, take the sacrament of repentance. "There will arise false Christs and false prophets, and they will give great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect" (Matthew 24:24), "said the bishop.

As the UOJ reported, earlier His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine said in his sermon, "God wants us to be principled in our faith. The right faith is the right vector in life."

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