UOC Chancellor: We have no right to push God-entrusted people into schism

Metropolitan Anthony. Photo: facebook.com/MitropolitAntoniy

The UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, declared that neither persecution nor intimidation or repression will give the Church the right to push God-entrusted people into schism. He made this statement in an address published on his YouTube channel.

According to him, there are continuous efforts to destroy the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and they will always find new pretexts for it.

"Now is the time of truth, the time for everyone to decide whom we serve – God or the world, whether we are ready to take up our cross and follow Christ or be among the crowd shouting, 'Crucify Him!'" he said.

Furthermore, the UOC Chancellor cannot engage in the dialogue with the OCU as demanded by the authorities and activists. The bishop is convinced that such dialogue would lead to the UOC ceasing to exist as a canonical Church.

"This is a line we can never cross because behind it lies spiritual destruction. They will not stop until we completely merge with the OCU," the bishop added.

As reported, the UOC Chancellor said that the Ukrainian authorities are ignoring the rights of the largest religious denomination in Ukraine and are waging war against their own citizens.

Read also

If UOC is banned, we will become Carpatho-Russian Church, Uzhhorod priest

"You don’t need Russian, you don’t need Ukrainian — we’re returning to our own,” said Archpriest Dimitry Sydor.