UOC hierarch: The main concern of His Beatitude is fidelity to Holy Canons
On the eve of the meeting of the episcopate, clergy and laity of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, announced by the Holy Synod, Archbishop Bogolep of Alexandria and Svitlovodsk commented on the situation around the UOC.
“Supporters of immediate autocephaly demand the convening of a Council of the UOC, not a meeting, as the Synod announced. On the other hand, the opponents of autocephaly are dispersing the 'treacherous assembly' and trumpeting that the UOC is about to take the path of schism,” Vladyka noted.
“I would like to say to all such critics, both on the one side and on the other: do you really not believe that our Ukrainian Orthodox Church is governed by the Holy Spirit who lives in it? Do you really think that God will not help us in this difficult time and show us the right path? Do you really think that Christ is weaker than the mighty of this world?” asks Archbishop Bogolep.
According to Vladyka, there should fear those who do not believe in Christ, but not the faithful children of the Church.
“For even the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church, as the Lord has said. And what will happen to us if we abandon the Church? If we leave it at a difficult moment?” the hierarch inquires.
“We believe that the providence of God over our Church is manifested, among other things, by the fact that the Lord placed the true church pastor at the helm – His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, who all his life cares about the salvation of his soul and the flock entrusted to him. There are many examples that the main concern of His Beatitude is fidelity to the Holy Canons of the Church. In addition, we are convinced that His Beatitude Onuphry will be the first to raise his voice against any anti-canonical act. In turn, our duty is to help our Primate with prayer and unity around him, preserving unity in Christ in the Church of God,” said Archbishop Bogolep.
Recall, Metropolitan Nikodim of Zhytomyr and Novohrad-Volynsky said that all decisions of the Primate of the UOC are always aimed at the good of the Church.
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