Metropolitan Onufry: UOC has all the necessary attributes of independence
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine
We are an independent Church, said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine in the programme "Morning with Inter" on September 14.
"All those attributes of independence that are necessary today for a normal service to God and the people – we all have this," said Vladyka Onufry. "We have our own Synod, independent of anyone, our Bishops' Council. The decisions of our Synod, our Council are final, and no one can challenge them."
Metropolitan Onufry stressed that Tomos would become a restriction of freedom, which the UOC has.
"We do not need this. We have autonomy, independence, all the attributes of free life necessary for successful spiritual service to people. <…> The Church is not a political organization that today loves one, hates the other, and tomorrow – vice versa," concluded the Primate of the UOC.
Also in his interview, His Beatitude Onufriy said that Orthodox believers today are "dragged into the format of a political party".
Read also
OCU: Filaret did not want UOC-KP to exist after his death
The OCU insists that Filaret wanted the Kyiv Patriarchate to cease to exist after his death.
UOC primate blesses vehicles for evacuating the wounded from the front
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry performed the rite of blessing for nine vehicles purchased with donations from faithful in Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
Lawyer warns of planned seizure of UOC Ascension Church in Kyiv
The head of the religious community of the Holy Ascension Church in Demiivka has been unlawfully replaced, according to a lawyer.
UOC bishop comments on situation around Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi
Metropolitan Meletiy said court rulings transferring Bukovyna’s main shrine to the OCU are unlawful.
SBU detains antisemite calling to tear down banners for Jewish holidays
In Zakarpattia, authorities exposed an online agitator who used social media to incite religious hatred.
OCU: Those ordained by Filaret after the Tomos are not bishops
The OCU maintains that hierarchs of the UOC-KP, unlike those aligned with Dumenko, are non-canonical schismatics.