Priest of the UOC: A Church with many monasteries has a future

Protopriest Dimitry Sidor. Photo: screenshot from the YouTube channel of the Cross Exaltation Cathedral in Uzhhorod

The rector of the Cross Exaltation Cathedral in Uzhhorod, Protopriest Dimitry Sidor, stated that a Church with many monasteries has a future. He said this in a sermon published on the cathedral's YouTube channel.

According to him, the strength of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is manifested in the unity of its parishioners and clergy. In particular, the priest recalled attempts by the authorities to seize the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the brotherhood that remained faithful to their faith.

"At any time, a village church could be taken over by bribing the head of the village council. The same is true now – they trade on it, try to catch us on some crimes to force us to rewrite the community (in favour of the OCU – Ed.). With a monastery, it is impossible to do such a thing. No matter how they tried with the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, they bought only one monk. All the monks turned out to be a tough nut, reliable for the Lord. The UOC not only has more churches, parishes, but also monasteries, and a hundred times more monks than our opponents. This means that this Church is alive. This is the Church where people perform feats," he said.

As reported by the UOJ, the director of the reserve complained that there are just a few people attending the "services" of the OCU in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

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