DESS prescription is fictitious and has no legal force – UOC spokesman

Metropolitan Clement (Vecheria). Photo: t.me/nizhin_eparkhia

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church once again stated that accusations of “maintaining ties with Russia” have neither legal nor factual foundation. Metropolitan Clement, Chairman of the Synodal Information and Education Department of the UOC, said this in an interview with DW.

The hierarch noted that such claims are based on manipulation and ignore the updated Statute of the Church of May 2022, which completely excludes any subordination to foreign religious centers.

“The prescription that was sent is fictitious. It cannot be the subject of a legal dispute or accepted for consideration,” stressed the metropolitan, commenting on the directive of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS).

He emphasized that among its authors there are no specialists competent in concepts such as “spiritual ties,” “grace,” or “the canons of the Ecumenical Councils,” since Ukrainian legislation does not operate with such terms.

Answering a question about the possibility of a court case, the UOC spokesman noted that the Church has always sought dialogue with the state but has met only with disregard from officials.

“If the DESS has chosen as the best form of church–state relations to accuse the Ukrainian Church in court, presenting Russian documents as evidence, it is difficult to call this the right path for the state. Personally, I think the leadership of the DESS is deliberately creating this provocation solely to aggravate social problems and to compromise Ukraine before its international partners,” said the metropolitan.

Assessing possible risks for the status of the Kyiv Metropolia, Metropolitan Clement expressed confidence that most state institutions are guided by a responsible approach and will not succumb to “the populism of provocation.”

“Moreover, the Church has always had firm support – God’s protection,” concluded the UOC hierarch, adding that all actions of the Kyiv Metropolia will be carried out strictly within the framework of Ukrainian legislation.

As the UOJ previously reported, the UOC has commented on the DESS decision regarding the alleged “ties” of the Kyiv Metropolia with the ROC.

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