OCU cleric jokes that UOC gives drugs instead of Holy Communion

OCU cleric A. Filiuk. Photo: Filiuk’s Facebook

Oleksii Filiuk, a cleric of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) from Ternopil region, stated in an interview with Glavcom that he and his colleagues try to “engage in debates with supporters of the ‘Russian world’.”

“But they don’t answer questions or engage in dialogue,” Filiuk said.

He asserted that UOC priests refuse to join the OCU solely because they are allegedly paid by certain “charitable foundations,” though he could not name any of them.

He also complained that not only UOC clergy but also parishioners refuse to move to the OCU: “Even those we consider intellectuals, like teachers and doctors, support the Moscow Patriarchate.” He attributed this to “brainwashing”.

“One of my fellow priests once joked that they must be giving them drugs instead of Communion. He said there’s no other way to explain how a mother, whose son was killed by Russians, still goes there saying ‘aki-paki, let us pray to the Lord (a mocking and sarcastic imitation of the beginning of the Church Slavonic chant 'again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord' – Ed.).’ Turns out the Russians killed her son and buried him,” Filiuk shared.

Elsewhere in the interview, he stated that although the Church considers homosexuality a sin, people have the right to practice such relationships, as guaranteed by the Ukrainian Constitution.

“Outside the Church, it’s your choice. If Anka wants to sleep with Anka, there’s nothing wrong with that. Let her do as she pleases,” Filiuk affirmed.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Filiuk greenlighted the consumption of sausage during Great Lent.

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