Cypriote hierarch: We must be loyal to His Beatitude Onuphry and UOC
Metropolitan Athanasios of the Church of Cyprus noted that he is concerned about the Ukrainian people remaining with the UOC.
It is necessary to remain faithful to the canonical Church of Ukraine, led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, said the hierarch of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Athanasios (Nikolau) of Limassol, on the air of the Pershy Nazalezhny channel.
“We must remain faithful to the canonical Church of Ukraine, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine,” he stressed. "It should be just taken for granted that we have to be faithful to him."
Metropolitan Athanasios assured that people in Cyprus pray for the UOC.
“Our concern for the people means our concern for the people to remain with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” Vladyka said. “We believe that the UOC is only in the person of Metropolitan Onuphry.”
In addition, we should not bother about any sorrows and worries, but should look up to martyrs, testimonies that speak of the faith of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This testimony helps us overcome all temptations that arise in the Church. And we must have patience. We must remain faithful to our Church."
The hierarch urged "to believe that the gloomy clouds will dissipate and Christ will exalt our Church and conquer all the troubles that are facing Ukraine now."
As the UOJ reported, the Serbian hierarch said that the situation in Kyiv is dangerous for other Local Churches as well.