UOC hierarch: Many are ill with COVID, but media prefers to notice only UOC
The UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary. Photo: a screenshot of the video on the UOJ YouTube channel.
On May 9, 2020, after praying and laying flowers at the Eternal Flame in the Park of Eternal Glory, the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary answered journalists' questions about the selective approach of some media to reporting on coronavirus incidence statistics.
“This is really a selective approach. The virus does not choose people of a particular faith, denomination, social status, political preference, etc. This is a disease that can affect every person,” the UOJ cites the words of Metropolitan Anthony. “We see that different people are dying: both scientists, and representatives of the Greek Catholic Church, and representatives of the OCU. Unfortunately, the monks of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra also died, but for some reason the emphasis is really only on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”
The bishop noted that it seems that the problem in this case is created artificially, and some media seemed to be waiting for diseases in order to attack the UOC again.
“But we are believers, and we perceive everything that the Lord sends us with confidence in God’s providence,” continued Metropolitan Anthony. “We pray for all who are ill, for those who sympathize with us and for those who, unfortunately, do not sympathize so that the Lord will protect them from this misfortune. And we hope that with God's help, with the help of doctors who are working on the front lines of this new war against the epidemic, we will all win.”
The hierarch of the UOC congratulated everyone on Victory Day, urged them to sympathize with each other, and also wished that the Lord would grant everyone victory over sins and illnesses.
Earlier, he reminded the public that May 9 is a celebration of the preservation of the Ukrainian people on the world map.
Read also
U.S. bishops call for Church unity on Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy
The Assembly of Bishops of the USA has issued an encyclical for the Triumph of Orthodoxy on Church unity, veneration of icons, and support for pan-Orthodox ministry.
OCU organizes harassment of businessman for aiding UOC
Hryshchuk called for boycotting the business of the entrepreneur who built a UOC church in the Rivne region.
Head of Lavra Reserve: I believe UOC monks will move to the OCU
Ostapenko said there are 140 UOC monks and novices on the territory of the Lower Lavra.
"Shield of Judah": Biblical name given to operations against Iran
A joint Israeli–US military operation against Iran has received a code name referencing the biblical forefather of the Jewish royal line.
In Syria, Islamic militants behead statues of Christ and Virgin Mary
Vandals beheaded statues of the Lord and the Mother of God at the entrance to the "Cave of the Virgin Mary" in the village of Al-Basiya near the coastal city of Banias in Syria.
Icon with particle of Gabriel Urgebadze's relics to be brought to Uzhhorod from Georgia
The holy icon, painted in Georgia, will be brought to the Holy Trinity Church of the Mukachevo Eparchy of the UOC.