Met Clement: The future of the UOC should be determined only after the war
Metropolitan Clement (Vecheria). Photo: press service of the Nizhyn Eparchy
In a conversation with journalists from BBC News Ukraine, the head of the Synodal Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Clement of Nizhyn and Pryluky, resolutely denied any rapprochement with the OCU and stressed that before the end of the war, no serious hasty steps should be taken regarding the future fate of the UOC.
“The future of the UOC will be determined by the council, by the entire episcopate. Today not only bishops can’t gather together, but in some dioceses, like mine, the territory of the diocese is divided into several pieces and there is no connection between them,” Vladyka said.
The metropolitan also noted that it is not possible to convene a Bishops' Council in wartime.
“Therefore, ways of church life in the future from today’s perspective can only be generated at the level of individual reflections, which does not always correspond to real prospects. Real, legal, and therefore authoritative decisions can only be made by the Council of Bishops. Important things should not be done in haste and should not lead to new divisions, but to the strengthening of the unity of the Holy Church,” said Metropolitan Clement.
Also during the interview, Vladyka emphasized that the only canonical and viable Church in Ukraine is the UOC, headed by Metropolitan Onuphry.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that taking advantage of martial law, Phanar agents are promoting another schism in the Ukrainian Church.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.