UOC hierarch: To say "put your mouth down" is not Christian

Metropolitan Varsonofy of Vinnytsia and Bar. Photo: tulchin-eparchia.org.ua

To declare that the Church of Constantinople "made us Christians" and now has the right to shut up the UOC is not fraternal and Christian. Metropolitan Varsonofy (Stoliar) of Vinnytsia and Bar said this in a commentary to the UOJ on the day of the holiday of the Chechelnyk Archangel-Michael Monastery.

The hierarch noted that when he read the words of the Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi, “I could not even believe that the hierarch of the Church could say this – it sounds so bold and defiant”.

“Yes, the Church of Constantinople has a great history, but to declare that they “made us Christians” and now have the right to shut our mouths is neither fraternal nor Christian. It is not even ethical to use such words for a hierarch,” he said.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church will give respond to these words, added the Vinnytsia bishop.

“We are worried about a split in society, our seized temples, and the beating of our believers. I am a witness to that. I was personally attacked by activists of the 'church' promoted by Constantinople. Bartholomew legalized illegal ‘hierarchs’,”emphasized Metropolitan Varsonofy.

We will remind, earlier the ROC noted that, judging by the words of the Metropolitan of Derkoi, Phanar feels like a factory that has received a "patent for the production" of Christians.

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