Cypriot Church bishop: They want to make Western Ukraine Uniate
Metropolitan Neophytos. Photo: UOJ
Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou Morphic of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus said that in his opinion an experiment is being conducted in Ukraine with the aim of making West Ukraine Uniate.
In an interview published on the UOJ’s YouTube channel, Metropolitan Neophytos said that one of the reasons why churches are being destroyed in Ukraine concerns the socio-political situation.
"The enemies know that Orthodox people, families, and communities unite around the temple. And they say: here I have destroyed the temple, killed the priest, intimidated the bishop, and people will simply leave. When they have no temple, and no possibility to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, they will move to other, safer places. This is their plan," says the bishop.
In his opinion, the people who are behind the destruction of churches in Ukraine "do not want the presence of Orthodoxy in all of Western Ukraine, they do not want Orthodox people to live there. They want the Uniates to be left there. And you will see that a structure will be created there that has never been seen before.
"They want to conduct an experiment in Ukraine. They want to make all of Western Ukraine Uniate. And then our Athonite brothers, the bishops who are now concelebrating with the OCU, will be surprised. They will see that the Epifaniy’s associates will serve with the Uniates," said Metropolitan Neophytos.
According to him, "then they will have to think hard: have you ever seen Onuphry concelebrating with the Uniates? Maybe, Onuphry participated in some common event with them but never in their liturgy, never in communion with them. It is impossible to imagine such a thing.
Metropolitan Neophytos, when asked why churches were being destroyed in Ukraine, said that "the devil is disturbed by the Divine Liturgy, fasting and prayer".
Read also
In Spain, murderer moved to women's prison after claiming to be female
A Spaniard convicted of a series of brutal murders has secured a transfer to a women's prison allegedly based on a change of gender identity.
Georgian Patriarchate warns about fake social media pages
The Georgian Orthodox Church has stated that unknown individuals are using official symbols to create fake social media pages.
Court extends round-the-clock house arrest for Metropolitan Arseniy
The Chechelivsky Court of Dnipro left the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra under house arrest and allowed him to attend medical procedures without separate permission.
OCU shows number of parishioners in seized church of Bezuhlivka
About 15 people with flags stood at the first "service" at St. Michael's Church after the seizure.
In Kyiv, OCU and UGCC сhaplains given an introductory tour of synagogue
Ukraine’s chief rabbi said that clergy of the OCU, UGCC, and RCC familiarized themselves with Jewish tradition at a synagogue.
OCU outraged that Lepliavo parish removed church property before seizure
The Cherkasy Eparchy of the OCU complained that after the fake “transfer” in Lepliavo, UOC faithful left them nothing but bare walls.