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".
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