OCU “priest”: I believe in the Armed Forces more than in God

Arsen Belavin. Photo: Belavin's Threads page

Arseniy Belavin, a “priest” of the OCU’s Odesa Diocese, wrote on Threads that he believes in the Armed Forces of Ukraine more than in God.

Belavin posted a photo of himself in a red cassock with buttons resembling Catholic clerical attire, prompting a lively wave of comments. “I thought someone was getting ready for a themed party, whoops,” wrote Uliana Lytvynenko. “The Pope. The beginning,” commented Olha Hetman. “Why do you hate the king’s musketeers so much?” Stanislav Khyzhniak asked ironically, alluding to the resemblance to Cardinal Richelieu from Dumas’ The Three Musketeers.

But there were serious comments as well.

“Do you believe in God?” Slavik Korshak asked Belavin. The OCU cleric replied: “I do. But I believe in the Armed Forces even more.” When someone responded that this was “a heretical statement, because God must come first,” Belavin explained: “If it were not for the defense forces, I would already be dead.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the OCU had “allowed” parishioners to use a priest’s cassock in sex games.

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