On Rivne Metropolitan's excuse for service in Jerusalem
Resources of the OCU are blowing up a scandal over the service of Metropolitan Pimen of Rivne at the Gorny Convent in Jerusalem. According to the authors, this is a "betrayal," since the monastery belongs to the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission of the MP. For example, the Rivne Eparchy of the OCU wrote: "While Russia is killing Ukrainians, the head of the UOC (MP) structure in the Rivne region is serving in a monastery of the Moscow Patriarchate."
The Rivne Eparchy of the UOC has already published a crisis response, stating that "the website of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission used the fact of this service to disseminate information in a manner that creates a false impression regarding its purpose and circumstances."
"We consider such a presentation to be dishonest and manipulative," the press service wrote, adding that the hierarch served in the convent "at the invitation of Ukrainian sisters who have been carrying out monastic service in this monastery for more than twenty years."
The text states that "offering prayers there at the request of Ukrainian women and mothers of fallen soldiers cannot be interpreted as support for the aggressor state, its church policy, or any Russian structures."
Metropolitan Pimen is referred to in the statement as "a patriot of Ukraine, a son of his native land and a spiritual mentor of the Ukrainian flock," whose "ministry, prayers and pastoral work are directed toward supporting the Ukrainian people, our defenders and the families who have suffered pain and loss as a result of Russian aggression."
We all understand that this entire text is an attempt to justify oneself. This raises the question: what is the point of it? Will this publication prove to the "patriots" that Metropolitan Pimen committed no betrayal at the Gorny Convent? No, it will not. Will they stop saying that the UOC is “Moscow-affiliated”? No, they will not. And finally, the main question: is there any need at all to justify celebrating the Divine Liturgy, even if it took place within a church structure whose center is located in an aggressor state?
Here, perhaps, it is worth recalling that there is not a separate Russian Church, a separate Greek Orthodox Church, Polish Church, Constantinople Church, and so on. The Church of Christ in the world is one and indivisible. And the bloodless Sacrifice offered at the Liturgy is one and the same in churches everywhere.
Despite the war, the divisions and disputes, and the mistakes and misconceptions of many hierarchs, the Church continues to lead people toward salvation whether in Kyiv, Jerusalem, or Moscow.
The same Patriarch Bartholomew, who often criticizes the ROC, does not question the fact that at the Liturgy in its churches bread and wine are still transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. And while condemning Russia’s aggression, the Patriarch nevertheless loves and respects Russian culture: he regularly celebrates services at the Russian parish in Istanbul, where he is greeted by girls in kokoshniks and Russian folk costumes.
Why then must Metropolitan Pimen justify himself for a service in Jerusalem? What is his crime? Did he glorify Putin? Did he express support for the "special military operation"?
No, he simply prayed.
Eucharistic communion between the UOC and the ROC has not been severed. Nor has it been severed between the UOC and the Jerusalem Patriarchate. When the Rivne hierarch concelebrated in Jerusalem with bishops of that Church, the "patriotic public" was silent. Why then did concelebrating with the ROC in the same city become almost a crime? From the Church's point of view, there is absolutely no difference between these two services: Christ was invisibly present at both Liturgies.
And if today we consider it possible to make excuses for concelebrating with the ROC, what will we justify ourselves for tomorrow?
We all know that the Antichrist will come to earth and that he will attempt to destroy the Church. But we give little thought to how exactly he might do this. It is quite possible that it will happen through a gradual shifting of the Overton window, as Orthodox Christians are step by step pressured to feel embarrassed first about their traditions, then their morality, and finally their faith.
Not long ago, we were considered “guilty” because we did not want to close the doors of churches in favor of online services. Now the authorities are hinting that, for the sake of European integration, we should support LGBT rights. There is no doubt that Orthodox Christians will be offered other "compromises" in the future.
For now, as a warm-up, we are being asked to repent for celebrating the "wrong" Liturgy.
