UOC hierarch opposes Ukrainian film about gays

Bishop Victor (Kotsaba). Photo: facebook.com/V.D.Kotsaba

On October 22, 2021, the vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis, the head of the Representation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to European international organizations, Bishop Victor (Kotsaba) of Baryshevka, spoke out against the state-funded Ukrainian film about gays.

Vladyka wrote that the movie about gays, "which will be filmed by the citizens of our country and for the money of the citizens of our country," raises a number of questions, "the main of which is the following: can the state find another use for 20 million hryvnias?"

The bishop suggested allocating these funds for the purchase of expensive medicines for sick children, pensioners and disabled people, or for equipment for hospitals, orphanages, homes for the elderly, etc.

“However, someone decided to spend these funds on the needs of gay propaganda. What for? The answer is obvious – so that LGBT "values" quickly take root in the minds of our compatriots," wrote the hierarch.

At the same time, in his opinion, “this is just the tip of the iceberg” since the filmmakers decided that blasphemous allusions (even parodies) of Christian symbols should fulfill the aesthetic function or satisfy “the high demands of visual lovers”.

"’The Lamentation of Christ’ and ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo turned into some kind of satanic parody, which cannot be described with the help of words and phrases," Vladyka Victor noted.

According to him, it is natural that "people who believe in Christ are categorically against such pictures and the use of Christian symbols in them".

“I would like both the authors of the film and the actors intending to appear in it to hear if not the voice of their compatriots then at least the voice of their conscience and abandon the planned venture,” the bishop emphasized.

He noted that "the attempt of the creators of the ‘modern’ film industry to play on symbols sacred to Christians is another confirmation of the fact that the greatest creations of human genius are associated with faith in God".

“Satan, like the ape of the Creator, cannot create anything – he can only pervert what was not created by him,” resumed Bishop Victor.

According to Bishop Victor, every believer should have an active church position.

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