Not Christ but language: "hierarch" of OCU explains its mission in Ukraine

Dmitry Rudyuk. Photo: velychlviv.com

Dmitry Rudyuk. Photo: velychlviv.com

"Metropolitan" of Lviv of the OCU Dmitry Rudyuk said that the issue of the Ukrainian language is one of the types of the OCU mission in relation to Russian-speaking Ukrainians, according to the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

In an interview with the newspaper, Rudyuk noted that "the language issue is being very artificially inflated in Ukraine." According to him, "Ukrainization is considered to be discrimination against those who do not want it." However, according to the "hierarch" of the OCU, he "felt oppressed as Ukrainian-speaking for most of his life."

“Our Russian-speaking fellow citizens need to understand that the movement of the state towards Ukrainization is a blessing for them as well,” assures Rudyuk.

He stressed that the OCU raises "the issue of the Ukrainian language as one of the types of our mission in relation to, among other things, Russian-speaking Ukrainians." It is through the divine service, according to the "metropolitan", that the Ukrainian language should become "closer" to the Russian-speaking citizens of the country.

The “hierarch” also noted that the OCU “a very long time ago” assumed the “function of Ukrainization, which is one of the most significant factors in the Ukrainianization of the state," he summed up.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the "metropolitan" of the Kyiv Patriarchate (and now the "hierarch" of the OCU) Mikhail Zinkevich canonized the UPA warriors.

Read also

Drabynko: Our churches are empty – why do we need the Pochaiv Lavra?

The OCU metropolitan emphasized that since the UOC was expelled from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, it has become empty.

OCU “Bishops’ Council” praises government for UOC banning law

The OCU called the UOC the “Moscow Patriarchate Metropolia” and urged it to enter into dialogue.

Metropolitan Longin: We will not be silent – we will defend our Shepherd!

The hierarch called on all believers to intensify their prayers for the Primate and urged the authorities to reconsider the decision before it's too late.

UOC faithful launch flash mob in support of His Beatitude Onuphry

"For years he has prayed for each of us. Now it's our turn to support the Primate," the statement says.

Refusal of passport to support His Beatitude may become widespread – expert

Kostiantyn Bondarenko believes that the faithful may soon actively respond to the authorities' arbitrariness toward the Primate of the UOC.

AFU medic to Zelensky: You took citizenship from His Beatitude – take mine too

Larysa Zburliuk returned all state awards she received during Zelensky’s presidency.