Abp Bogolep: The laity understand they're responsible for Сhurch’s future
Archbishop Bogolep. Photo: a video screenshot of the Youtube channel AlexandriaEparchia
We are forming a society that takes responsibility for the future of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Bogolep of Alexandria and Svetlovodsk said in a video posted on the YouTube channel of the Alexandria Eparchy of the UOC.
In his opinion, the latest events related to the arrival of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople "clearly showed the position and role of an ordinary believer in the life of the modern Ukrainian Orthodox Church".
“Today, thank God, a new consciousness is being formed, a new worldview of our believers, who understand that it is they who are responsible not only for the real life of the Church but also for its future,” said the hierarch. “This is, of course, the prerogative of both the hierarchy and the clergy, but today the undeservedly forgotten role of the laity is becoming more and more relevant and in demand.”
He expressed support for the public movement "Miriane" (“Laity”) and stressed that sooner or later the activities of believers will bring results.
The archbishop is convinced that ordinary believers who are full members of the Church should be able to speak about their understanding and vision of solving certain problems, and this is “not some kind of democracy in the Church, but the natural course of things, when not a gray mass but individuals who define and identify themselves with the Church, speak about their position."
Vladyka Bogolep urged the clergy and laity to be more active, and at the eparchial level to create such social structures of parishioners, thanks to which they could speak to society about those problems that are not just topical but vital.
“I am sure that someone will not like such a dialogue, but our current task is to promote the values of Christianity, the values of our faith as closely and effectively as possible,” the bishop emphasized and wished that the Lord would enlighten “all of us to be real, earnest, sincere, courageous servants of our Mother Church ”.
According to political expert Daniil Bogatyrev, the activity of UOC believers thwarted the possible provocations of the Phanar head.
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