Patriarch Kirill: Church schism brings real suffering to people
Patriarch Kirill. Photo: rbc.ru
On May 16, 2021, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, said that church division in Ukraine brings suffering to people, reports the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church.
During a meeting with the episcopate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, held at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, Patriarch Kirill expressed his vision of the church situation in Ukraine.
The Primate said that he receives a weekly report of the offences that are taking place in Ukraine in relation to the believers of the UOC. According to him, people experience suffering because of the church division, and the matter often comes "to violence, to beatings, to the struggle for churches".
However, the Patriarch said, "the church people are sensitively aware of the destructive temptations and do not accept them”, and the canonical Church in Ukraine "does not diminish in any way, does not become weaker – new parishes and monasteries are opening, the number of the clergy is increasing".
“Nevertheless, of course, separation brings real suffering to people,” resumed the Primate of the Russian Church.
As reported earlier, Patriarch Kirill believes the schism in Ukraine is a deliberately provoked conflict.
Read also
DESS: The number of communities joining OCU in 2024 is half of last year’s
Over a year, 232 communities of the UOC changed their jurisdiction.
Scale of internal damage to UOC cathedral in Zaporizhzhia shown online
The video allows viewers to assess the damage endured by the main Orthodox church of the UOC in Zaporizhzhia.
Ex-MP UOC protodeacon Novinsky declared suspicion of high treason
The former MP is accused of "ensuring that a significant part of Ukrainian society, who are believers of the UOC, remain under the direct influence of the leader of the ROC".
St Andrew’s icon survives under the rubble of UOC cathedral in Zaporizhzhia
The icon was painted by nuns of the St Nicholas Monastery in Patras (Greece) and consecrated on the relics of St Andrew the Apostle.
RF missile strike destroys St Andrew's Cathedral of UOC in Zaporizhzhia
The fragments damaged the roof of the building, dome, ceilings, cut windows and disfigured classrooms.
Media shows conditions in which persecuted communities of Volyn have to pray
After their churches were seized, UOC faithful are compelled to pray in poorly equipped facilities.