OCU responds to Shevchuk's accusations of property seizure
Dumenko and Shevchuk. Photo: the UGCC press service
The press service of the OCU published a comment regarding the accusations by the head of the UGCC, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, about the seizure of church property and the desire to become a "state Church".
The OCU called Shevchuk’s words “truthful” and “timely.” Dumenko’s representatives emphasized that they do not see them as criticism but as a “Gospel-based warning meant to unite, not divide.”
According to the OCU press service, religious denominations in Ukraine should not be in conflict with one another, “because the real enemy is not another denomination, not another region, not another tradition.”
“The real enemy is the Russian aggressor, who wants us to fight among ourselves while he destroys our homes, our holy sites, and our people,” the message says.
In its statement, the OCU affirmed that Shevchuk’s words are “a spiritual bell for all of us” and urged everyone to “listen,” warning that otherwise, OCU officials fear Ukraine could be lost. In conclusion, the OCU declared that they “forgive” the UGCC and called for unity.
As reported, earlier Shevchuk criticized "churches that fight for property in Ukraine during the war" and strive to become "state". It should be noted that the head of the UGCC did not specify which denomination he meant.
Read also
In Nigeria, 130 hostages abducted from Catholic school released
The country's authorities reported the release of the last hostages – victims of the attack on the Catholic school.
Zelensky wishes death to Putin in his Christmas message
The presidential address included the phrase "May he parish", said in the context of a Christmas wish.
Hungarian authorities to fund restoration of Serbian Church monastery
The Government of Hungary has allocated funds for the reconstruction of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos Monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Zelensky: All Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on the same date
Volodymyr Zelensky recorded a new video with Christmas greetings.
Instead of Christmas: Zelensky declares January 7 Programmer’s Day
Zelensky decided that January 7 is the most appropriate date for introducing a new holiday.
OCU equates UOC’s losses from “transfers” with losses caused by occupation
In Dumenko’s circle, the losses suffered by the UOC due to so-called “voluntary transfers” to the OCU were equated with losses resulting from occupation and the re-subordination of communities to the Russian Orthodox Church.