OCU “hierarch”: Our priests don’t want to join AFU, and it frustrates me
Klyment Kushch. Photo: Radio Liberty
OCU “Metropolitan” Klyment Kushch criticized clerics of his structure who refuse to serve as chaplains in the army.
“There is a problem with chaplains in the army. There aren’t enough. And, to my great regret, the overwhelming majority of clergy do not want to go to the troops. And this annoys me, this frightens me, and I cannot understand it,” Kushch complained.
He also condemned the Council of Churches, which “raises before the president the question of granting clergy a reservation from going to the troops.”
“Excuse me, how can someone stand at the cathedra, on the ambo, urging people to go defend the state of Ukraine, while themselves looking for a reservation – and then also running to DESS and demanding the right to go abroad because they are tired,” the “hierarch” said indignantly.
He called on the state not to grant religious organizations any reservations or permission to leave the country until military chaplain posts in the army are filled.
“This is improper. If you are a shepherd, then go ahead of those whom you address. You cannot tell someone, ‘Go to war,’ knowing that he may die, and then say, ‘And I will pray here for you.’ That is not of God, that is not Christian,” Kushch stressed.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the OCU “hierarch” urged Ukrainians “to stop the drama at TRCs” and to go to the front instead.
Read also
MP urges to ease pressure on UOC for sake of peace
Oleksii Honcharenko proposed compromises on language, historical memory, and Church issues as part of efforts to achieve peace, saying those who wish to attend the “Russian Church” should be allowed to do so.
Court takes 17th-century church in Staryi Pochaiv from UOC community
A commercial court overturned a 2018 registrar’s decision and stripped the UOC’s Ternopil Eparchy of ownership of the 17th-century church.
Vinnytsia Eparchy honors Bar Icon of the Mother of God
Metropolitan Varsonofiy celebrated the Liturgy at the Bar Convent on the feast day of the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God.
Rada speaker discusses legalization of same-sex marriage in Rivne region
Ruslan Stefanchuk suggested that sponsors of separate bills to legalize same-sex marriage personally make their case to Ukrainians.
Jerusalem Patriarch rejects proposal to celebrate Christmas on December 25
The Jerusalem Patriarch rejected a proposal for a common Christmas celebration and reaffirmed the Church’s adherence to the Julian calendar.
SBU told Phanar many UOC bishops would join OCU in 2018, report says
According to a Phanar representative’s account, Ukrainian security services told the Constantinople delegation that many UOC representatives were prepared to attend the OCU’s “Unification Council.” In the end, only two did.