UOC hierarch: His Beatitude Vladimir did not say what is attributed to him

Bishop Victor (Kotsaba). Photo: facebook.com/V.D.Kotsaba

Bishop Victor (Kotsaba) of Baryshivka, vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis and head of the Representation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to European International Organizations, in an interview with the Journal of the Serbian Patriarchate, said that Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan) was completely satisfied with the status of the UOC and never said the words that various figures put into his mouth, according to the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

Bishop Victor noted that the late His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir "knew how to combine deep churchness with real patriotism without any admixture of nationalism, but with true love for his homeland."

At the same time, Vladyka stressed that "today there are some church and non-church leaders who are trying to ascribe to His Beatitude Vladimir statements he never said."

According to the bishop, “Vladyka Vladimir has always stood firmly on the solid foundation of church canons. He never made any movements that could have an adverse impact on the life of the Church, but always tried to do everything for Her good."

“His Beatitude Vladimir has repeatedly stressed and pointed out the optimality of the status of the UOC as ‘independent and self-governed’, which was confirmed by the Blessed Letter (Tomos) of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus in 1990,” emphasized Bishop Victor.

He also said that the activity of Metropolitan Vladimir was aimed at strengthening the Church, both internally and externally, and he laid a solid canonical foundation on which His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry continues his ministry today.

“Our acting Primate is a role model of a fiery prayer man for all, a real monk and bishop who gives all of himself to the service for the sake of the Church,” summed up Bishop Victor.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the UOC voiced the attitude of Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan) to autocephaly.

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