UOC spokesman – about OCU clergy after their return to canonical Church
Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC. Photo: screenshot of the video of First Cossack youtube channel.
The Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC, Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, in the program "Right to Faith" on the First Cossack youtube channel, said that he considers it possible that the clergy who have left for the OCU will return to the canonical Church, in which they could continue to provide spiritual guidance to their western-oriented Ukrainian-speaking flock.
The priest believes that the Church in Ukraine has not yet passed the test of universalism, whereby the flock wouldn’t be divided by the linguistic or political issues. “They (the priesthood that fell into schism – Ed.) have to be part of our Church, because they used to part of our Church but departed from us. They, within the framework of a single Church, would be engaged in pastoral care of the pro-Western-oriented part of the population, let's say so,” Father Nikolai noted. "They must return to our Church to save at least some."
The spokesman of the UOC believes that strong geopolitical centers outside Ukraine are tearing the country apart and this can continue until strong political elite comes to power, which will defend the interests of the people and canonical Orthodoxy.
As the UOJ reported, thanks to its centrist position, our Church unites the country, according to the spokesman of the UOC.
Read also
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.
Congress Speaker: Demand to introduce Sharia law in USA is a serious problem
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that there is growing concern in society about attempts to impose Islamic law, which is incompatible with the American Constitution.
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".