Cherkasy bishop: Our clerics persuaded UOC will no longer exist in 2 months
Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy and Kaniv. Photo: a video screenshot of the YouTube channel "Cherkasky Blahovisnyk"
Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy and Kaniv told in his video message that the special services are trying to convince priests in Cherkasy that in two months there will be no UOC in Ukraine and suggest that they switch to the OCU.
The video message was published on the YouTube channel "Cherkasky Blahovisnyk".
"Now, there are individuals wandering around Cherkasy who have direct connections, on one hand, with the OCU, and on the other hand, with the security services. They are talking to our priests, telling them that in two months our Church in Ukraine will no longer exist. Therefore, "get ready, think about where you will go, but you must go with the parishioners". Why? Because if there are no parishioners, there will be no one to maintain the churches they plan to seize. There will be no one to pay for utilities. This is the primitive and mercantile understanding these people have about the Church. The parishioners will never join you! You see people as a source of your wealth. But you do not realise that if you take over our churches, you will not gain prosperity. People will still remain in the Church and with their priests. With those priests who will go to houses, flats, attics and basements," said Metropolitan Theodosy.
The bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) called on the believers to support their pastors amidst persecution.
"Taking this opportunity, I want to address our parishioners. If we have to endure such conditions of Church life in our country, continue to love your priests, and do not forget to support them, including financially. Take care of your pastors. Those who are going around and saying that our Church will not exist are not putting themselves in the shoes of the same persecutors who have been saying this for 2000 years. Many have wanted and will continue to want to destroy us. But 'I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it' (Matthew 16:18)," he concluded.
As reported, the UOC hierarch urged not to judge strictly those persecuted.
Read also
UGCC speaks out against bringing labor migrants to Ukraine
The UGCC priest said the use of foreign labor during wartime is unfair to the Ukrainian people and threatens to destabilize the country.
Papal encyclical text was written with AI, study says
A detector found that some paragraphs of the encyclical were entirely generated by artificial intelligence.
Tsikhanouskaya awards OCU cleric medal for “work for the benefit of Belarus”
Orda received the award from Tsikhanouskaya for supporting the Kalinouski Regiment, made up of ethnic Belarusians.
Patriarch Porfirije announces extension of Theotokos’ Belt’s stay in Serbia
The primate and the abbot of Vatopedi responded to the flow of thousands of faithful by allowing the Athonite shrine to remain in Belgrade until June 6.
Patriarch Shio receives U.S. State Department representatives
The meeting focused on Georgian-American relations, prospects for cooperation, and shared Christian values.
Yelensky assures U.S. Hasidim of religious freedom during Uman pilgrimage
The head of DESS met with Rabbi Niederman to coordinate security for the pilgrimage to the grave of Tzadik Nachman on Rosh Hashanah.