UOC Primate: We love our politicians but cannot follow them

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kiev and All Ukraine

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kiev and All Ukraine

The Church respects its politicians, but if it indulges in the sinful desires of those in power, it will cease to be a Church, declared His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kiev and All Ukraine.

“We love our politicians and respect them, but we cannot follow them. Otherwise, we will cease to be a Church, turn into a political organization and the days of our existence will be numbered by God,” said the Primate of the UOC in an interview with the Shepherd and Flock journal.

He stressed that the state is following a post-revolutionary course that breaks away from God. And although politicians pray and go to churches, but “there are forces that make our believing politicians pass laws that promote the naturalaization and legalization of sin.” Such politicians want to tune the Church to the rhythm of their life,“ assures His Beatitude Onufriy.  “They want to create a Single Local Orthodox Church, which would indulge them and push people, who are moving to God, to the path they, unfortunately, chose to go themselves.”

The Primate believes that if one embarks on such a course, then soon each political force will be willing to have its own Local Church, which would “obey this party and force God to fulfill its political desires.”

“The one who believes in God, but at the same time is obsessed about the Local Church, does not entrust himself to God, but lives according to his own way of thinking,” reminded Metropolitan Onufriy.

On October 14, 2018 President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said that the anathema imposed by the ROC, is recognition of special services to Ukraine. On October 19, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo called on the authorities to continue moving towards autocephaly.

Read also

UOC accuses DESS of coercing the Church into illegal activities

The Church has revealed serious violations in the process of conducting research by the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience and called their requirements contradictory to the laws of Ukraine.

Supreme Court orders transfer of St. Nicholas Church to Roman Catholics

The court ruling is final and not subject to appeal.

Greece establishes legal body to represent St. Catherine Monastery on Sinai

The bill was drafted by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports.

UOC is the last independent voice not controlled by Zelensky – Amsterdam

According to the lawyer, Zelensky’s attack on anti-corruption bodies was carried out under the same pretext used by the authorities to persecute the UOC.

Dumenko is concerned about the Romanian Church in its struggle with the Russian Orthodox Church in Moldova

Dumenko spoke about the actions of the OCU aimed at further establishing dialogue with the Romanian Patriarchate.

Blogger who picketed Kyiv Caves Lavra arrested for drunk driving accident

Koshelnyk is also wanted for evading military service.