UOC priests explain to Volyn media why they do not transition to OCU

Volyn UOC priests. Photo: sylapravdy

In Volyn, over 500 UOC parishes remain active, and in the past year, only 5 UOC churches have been "transferred" to Dumenko's structure. Since 2019, according to OCU data, only 18 priests have moved to the OCU. Journalists from the Volyn publication "Syla Pravdy" sought to understand the reasons behind this discouraging statistic for the OCU and turned to the rectors of Volyn temples of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for comments on their position regarding the OCU.

The first question asked was whether the issue of joining the OCU had been considered in their community and what they thought about leaving the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

In particular, the rector of the Intercession Church in the village of Piddubtsi, Archpriest Mykola Lafeta, said that he held a vote, and about 90 members of the community decided to stay, while 15 voted for the transition.

"I stood before the people and said: 'If you want to transition, then I won't. I'll take my things and go home.' I repeat once more: as the son of a priest, transitioning for me means taking my truth and distorting it. I've been serving here for 34 years... And to say that I'll go somewhere because someone wanted to create these schisms...No," said Archpriest Mykola Lafeta.

"This issue was considered. So to speak, the previous authorities suggested that people transition to the new church. But the real parishioners in this cathedral, who sing and take care of it, unanimously decided that they had nothing to change. They consider themselves Ukrainians; their children are fighting on the front," said the cleric of the Resurrection Cathedral in Kovel, Maksym Rudenok.

The rector of the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky, Archpriest Dmytro Hryhorchuk, also says there is nothing to change. "I am a fourth-generation priest. Whom should I betray? My great-grandfather, born during the Tsarist Russia? My grandfather was persecuted by the communists. Where should I go? Should I betray my grandfather?" said Father Dmytro.

"I took an oath in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, became a priest, a teacher. Half of Volyn are my students. I teach church history. So, should I run somewhere? So that my guys would look at me and say: 'Aha, the power is changing?' They want to make us a lower caste, as if we are worse, bad, not patriots, or something else. Well, let them talk. I know what's in my soul and heart," said the rector of the Church of St. John the Theologian in the village of Borokhiv, Oleksandr Kratiuk.

The priests emphasize that the UOC enjoys the support of all Local Churches worldwide, while the OCU is recognized by only a few.

"The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has not violated anything, has not deviated, has not broken unity with the whole world. It is recognized by all Local Churches worldwide. I can go to Jerusalem, and I will be allowed into any church. I can go to Poland, Bulgaria... We are recognized; we have liturgical unity with the whole world," said Archpriest Oleksandr Kratiuk.

As the UOJ reported, in Sofia, a UOC hierarch conveyed greetings from His Beatitude to the Patriarch of the BOC.

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