UOC hierarch: Ill-wishers can use quarantine against the Church
Archbishop Theodosy (Snigirev). Photo: a video screenshot of the “Stolichnyi Blagovestnik” YouTube channel
Opponents of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church can use the situation that arose in Ukraine because of the coronavirus spread against it, Archbishop Theodosy (Snigirev) of Boyarka, the vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis, warned the flock in an exclusive interview with the UOJ.
“We have a liturgical Church, the most populous in the number of practicing believers. For us, closing all churches even on one Sunday is a disaster. And even more so – for the Great Lent. This is what makes the UOC different from the others. And our opponents also know about this. And they may want to play on it, do harm,” he said in an interview with a UOJ correspondent.
Vladyka Theodosy emphasized that the archpastors and pastors of the UOC in the coming month should show "serpentine wisdom and pigeon simplicity".
According to the bishop, possible provocations on the part of ill-wishers will not go unnoticed.
“But still I want to hope that our opponents have enough intelligence and conscience not to fall to such a level, using the common misfortune of our people,” added Archbishop Theodosy.
He said that in the event of undeserved attacks on a particular clergyman, the Church will resort to legal and information protection at the local, state, and, if necessary, international level.
“Any such accusation will be made public as much as possible, will be under the scrutiny of independent journalists and the international community,” Vladyka Theodosy noted.
According to him, if some cleric is accused of negligence or violation of sanitary order, the Church will support a fair investigation so that no one dares to take advantage of the people’s sorrow and unfairly lynch the priest.
“God forbid that such a pastor should really be guilty,” the bishop added.
He also explained that, under quarantine, the rector of the church would decide on the form of the service.
Read also
Orthodox shrines seized using "Ukrainian-style scenario,” Moldovan politician
Moldovan Socialists accused the authorities of using the police to pressure Orthodox communities.
Rada backs away from lowering marriage age to 14
Speaker Stefanchuk announced that the clause lowering the marriage age has been removed from the draft Family Code after criticism on social media.
UGCC cleric: By going underground, the UOC is trying to imitate us Uniates
Yustyn Boyko said that UOC supporters are trying to copy the experience of the Uniates who lived underground under the USSR – but they will not succeed, because they are incapable of sacrifice.
Cleric of Constantinople: Patriarch Kirill planned to become UOC primate
According to Govorun, if he had not been elected patriarch, the current head of the ROC planned to learn Ukrainian and lead the autocephalist movement in Ukraine.
UK House of Lords blocks euthanasia bill
The upper chamber of the British Parliament has halted the advance of an initiative on euthanasia.
Jerusalem opens a Second Temple–era pilgrimage road
After 13 years of excavations in Jerusalem, a 1st-century pilgrimage route from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount has been opened to visitors.