UOC bishop about Zelensky’s “church” pledges: There is such a word – “lied”

Metropolitan Evlogiy recalled that believers voted for Zelensky because he promised not to interfere in church issues.

During a sermon at the Transfiguration Cathedral, Metropolitan Evlogiy of Sumy and Akhtyrka reminded everyone that all UOC believers voted for Zelensky in the presidential elections because he promised not to interfere in church matters. The video of his sermon was published on the YouTube channel "Orthodox Sumy."

"Zelensky, who used to say 'thermos' instead of 'tomos' and claimed he would not dictate which church people should attend, what is he doing to us now?" he asked the present bishops, commenting on the ban imposed on the UOC by the Verkhovna Rada.

"We went to vote for him because he said he would not meddle in the Church. We voted. He deceived us. There is a beautiful Ukrainian word for this – 'zbrekhav' (lied)," the Metropolitan stated. "And he placed a man who used to be called a scientific atheist during the Soviet era, who fought against believers, including through his so-called scientific atheist works (apparently, the head of the DESS, Viktor Yelensky, is meant – Ed), at the head of this whole anti-God structure. He is appointed as a kind of religious prosecutor for religious matters."

Metropolitan Evlogiy reminded that "this man involved other atheists, unbelievers."

"These atheists are hiding their true face and suddenly claim that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is supposedly part of the Moscow Church, that it is subordinate to Moscow. But someone wants to wage a war within the country, so they have declared us the enemy. Look at the TV screens, see how much dirt is being poured on our Church. At the same time, we cannot respond; we are not even allowed on television," the hierarch said.

Earlier, the hierarch of the UOC reminded Zelensky of his promise not to interfere in church affairs.

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