UOC Chancellor: Being at war with the Church is biting hand that feeds one

Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary. Photo: antoniy.com.ua

Fighting with the Church, one bites the hand that feeds them, depriving themselves of the opportunity to be a human, said UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary, in a commentary to the Pravlife publication.

According to the hierarch, history knows the times when individual people were engaged in fighting with the Church, which is “the foundation of the world, the foundation of mankind, the light in darkness, the ray of hope,” failing to learn bitter lessons of previous fights.

“Waging war with the Church, a man cuts his own throat. He deprives himself of the opportunity to be a human, loses touch with the Source of Life and therefore, with life itself, kills himself painfully and for a long time. Of course, everyone makes a choice for themselves. Nobody forces anyone to be with the Church, to believe. This is a purely personal matter. A slave is not a pilgrim, as the saying goes. But why are they trying to destroy the Church, to drive Her into a corner then? And who is doing that? Those whom the Church does not pull anywhere and does not impose anything. Where are the declared democratic values and rights in this case?” he noted.

Vladyka emphasized that the Ukrainian authorities constantly declare freedom of choice, speech, religion, “but upon the unfolding events around the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, we can see that all these laws are not enforced. The Church has been subject to attack again and again.”

“To date, there has been a series of arson attacks of our temples, there are victims,” Metropolitan Anthony added. “Who will answer for this? In what other state with the rule of law can such excesses be possible? Such precedents are difficult to find, even if one tries. The connivance and impunity of the radical elements that commit lawlessness is a big scar on the reputation of the country that claims to be on a civilizational path. This is an unacceptable situation.”

He recalled that respect for each other is the basis of a democratic society, "a society where they do not infringe on rights."

“The Church is not a toy but a living organism. These are millions of believers who have the right to faith and no one can take this right from them. The Church (not a political project!) has always been the Church of Christ and the flesh of Her people’s flesh. She shared all their troubles and adversities, consoled during wars and disasters, helped and healed. It has been like that for centuries, and it always will be. The Church, like a loving mother, forgives everything and is always ready to understand and accept. She will not leave her children without comfort and joy, light and love. Any attacks on the Church will not go unanswered. Violation of spiritual laws and earthly laws entails punishment. The universe rests on this law. And if there comes a time when there is no good left in the world, then the Church will create good from evil, because there will be nothing more to do it from,” summed up the UOC Chancellor.

Earlier, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich), commenting on the fire in the Holy Assumption Monastery in Odessa and the preceding attacks on temples and monasteries of the UOC, said that a real terror was launched against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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