UOC Spokesman: Head of OCU had to respond to the events in Zadubrivka
Deputy Head of the UOC DECR Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich. Photo: screenshot of the video on the “1Kozak” YouTube channel
The incident on the evening of May 4, 2020, in the village of Zadubrivka in the Chernivtsi Region was banditry, and the leadership of the OCU should have responded to this, Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC, emphasized.
“I think that the leadership of the so-called OCU should have responded to this to tame ardor of its adherents so that they would stop seizing the temples of our Church,” he said on the air of “1Kozak” channel.
While believers are forbidden to gather in the church in groups of more than 10 people, about 40 adherents of the OCU gave up on all the prohibitions and got together to take over the church from the parishioners of the UOC, he added.
In his opinion, the negative picture created by the biased media around the UOC also eventuated the conflict in Zadubrivka.
Archpriest Nikolai noted that the government’s response to the incident is also important – the perpetrators must be held accountable for their deeds, while the decisions on illegal “transitions” of the canonical Church’s parishes to the OCU must be rescinded.
The spokesman of the UOC is convinced that the citizens of our country need to build Ukraine of the future, for which reason it is important to learn how to live next to other people.
It is unthinkable to hope that Ukrainians will dismiss their confessional affiliations en masse to pass in bulk to the OCU, the clergyman believes.
He called on society to an internal inclusive dialogue, which is the only way to develop a model of social life in which everyone will live a comfortable life.
Earlier, religious scholar Yelena Kulachevich noted that the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko finds it more suitable to congratulate the head of the UGCC Sviatoslav Shevchuk than to be responsible for the actions of his clergy.
Read also
UOC priest’s home damaged in drone strike on Poltava
The home of Archpriest Kostiantyn Fisun, rector of St. Seraphim Church in Poltava, was damaged in a drone attack.
Kyiv Theological Schools begin enrollment for catechetical courses
The Kyiv Theological Academy has announced enrollment for the St. Peter Mohyla Catechetical Courses for laypeople.
Greek hierarch criticizes new school textbooks containing LGBT propaganda
Metropolitan Seraphim called on parents to monitor school lessons in order to protect their children.
Site blessed for new church construction in Oleksandriia Eparchy
On the feast day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, Metropolitan Boholep laid a foundation capsule for a new church.
World Council of Churches condemns confiscation of Evangelical church in Iran
Secretary General Jerry Pillay demanded the return of the St. Peter's Church compound to believers.
Poland repeals law recognizing same-sex unions concluded in EU
The court ruled that the registration of foreign same-sex unions contradicts the article of the Constitution defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman.