Chancellor: UOC status has never prevented it from leading people to God

Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanych), the UOC Chancellor. Photo: a screenshot of Met. Anthony’s YouTube channel

Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary said in an address published on his YouTube channel that the status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has never prevented it from leading people to God.

Commenting on the appeal of a group of clergy to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry with a demand to convene a Council of Bishops of the UOC to proclaim autocephaly, Metropolitan Antony said: "Let's be frank: the status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has never prevented it from fulfilling its direct duty of leading people to God."

"Everything else is politicking, emotion and speculation, which are far from the essence of Orthodoxy," he stressed and recalled that from time immemorial persecutors "have attempted to prevent the mission of the Church under any pretext".

Earlier, Metropolitan Anthony said that the UOC has no right to push God-entrusted people into schism despite intimidation and repression.

Read also

Politician criticizes OCU cleric for "special support" of TRC

Vitaliy Kupriy commented on a sermon by an OCU cleric, where the latter called draft evasion a sin and urged to "reason with" such people through denunciations.

Armenian Church to hold council in Austria despite government obstacles

The Episcopal Council of the Armenian Church will take place in St. Pölten, even though a number of bishops have been banned from leaving the country and several hierarchs remain in custody.

Moldovan Metropolis bishop and faithful blocked inside a church in Moldova

Police blocked access to a church in the village of Dereneu, where Archbishop Petru of the Moldovan Church and parishioners were inside.

Why Phanar recognized UAOC ordinations involving self-proclaimed bishop – historian

The Phanar compared the participation of impostor Chekalin in the UAOC ordinations to zero in mathematics: whether you multiply by zero or divide by zero, the result is still one.

Pashinyan compares Armenian Church clergy to Islamists

The Armenian prime minister said in an interview that radical political sermons are being delivered in Armenian churches.

Turkish and Greek leaders to discuss religious agenda with Pat. Bartholomew

The President of Turkey and the Prime Minister of Greece will hold a meeting and official dinner with Patriarch Bartholomew in Ankara.