OCU "hierarch": Alexander Nevsky is known for his Ukrainophobic stance

Icon of Alexander Nevsky. Photo: open sources

The "metropolitan" of the OCU told Volyn journalists whether it is possible to pray to "Russian saints" in OCU churches.

"Some claim that if the Lord glorified them as saints, they can be present in churches. Others are categorically against it, especially after the start of the full-scale invasion. What is your opinion?" a journalist asked Zinkevych.

According to the "metropolitan", "the appropriateness of the presence of certain icons should be discussed through the prism of historical and political contexts".

He believes that before praying to a saint, one should first study their biography. And if there are facts that "he did not love Ukraine, was an outright Ukrainophobe", it is not permissible to keep the icon of such a saint in an OCU church.

"This also applies to the celebration of dates that reflected those historical events that were exclusively connected with Moscow. For example, the icon of Russian Emperor Nicholas II, Admiral Fyodor Ushakov, Prince Alexander Nevsky. These people are known for their Ukrainophobic stance, so they have no place in Ukrainian churches," Zinkevych said.

Where he could have learned about the "Ukrainophobic" position of mentioned Alexander Nevsky, who lived many centuries before the emergence of a state named Ukraine, Zinkevych did not specify.

He also stated that Ukraine has already won the war with the Russian Federation because "we, Ukrainians, live on our land".

"People are getting married, having children, building houses. And this is already a victory over their fear. A victory over their own doubts, hesitations," said the «metropolitan».

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to the OCU hierarch Fedir Bubniuk, he is fighting in his eparchy against Alexander Nevsky churches.

Read also