UOC Chancellor responds to State Service chief on no persecution claim
Metropolitan Anthony on Yelensky’s statement that there is no persecution: a person for whom a church is not a sacred place is indifferent to seizures.
The Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, commented on the words of the head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) Viktor Yelensky about the interfaith situation in Ukraine. According to the hierarch, statements that there is no persecution or church seizures reveal the official's attitude toward the Church.
His Eminence recalled that the Church speaks of love for God and humanity, holiness, compassion, mercy, goodness, and light. "Everything else has nothing to do with the Church," he emphasized. According to him, because of a misunderstanding of the nature of the Church, people today attribute inappropriate characteristics and qualities to it, and there are "plenty" of such examples.
As an example, His Eminence cited a recent interview with the head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS). According to Metropolitan Anthony, Yelensky stated that the interfaith situation in Ukraine is far from dramatic and that reports of persecution, church seizures, and the harassment of UOC faithful are untrue.
"This interview can be regarded as a clear example of the same principle at work: the way a person views the Church determines how they perceive the situation," Metropolitan Anthony said. He believes that if a person does not regard a house of God as sacred, they remain indifferent "to church seizures, acts of desecration, looting, sacrilege, and changes in 'ownership'."
Such indifference, in the hierarch's opinion, is also visible in the current "masters" of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. He asked why "absurd gatherings" and contests are held at the Refectory Church if they consider the Lavra a sacred place. "It would never occur to a believing person to treat in this way a sacred place where the Liturgy is celebrated," the metropolitan said. He also recalled that when the Lavra lay in ruins, no one was found willing to restore it, but after the restoration "'owners' immediately appeared."
Assessing the actions of officials, His Eminence said that they are guided not by Gospel principles, and therefore have not learned to keep the commandments, respect the labor of others and the right of ownership. According to him, the authorities have learned to manipulate patriotic slogans and people's feelings, dividing society and gaining personal benefit. "As if people don’t already have enough suffering and hardship, now they need to sow interfaith discord, further deepening hatred and division," he said.
In general, Metropolitan Anthony emphasized, people should expect Divine support, a sense of community, and purity of faith from the Church. According to him, they should not expect conformism, support for fashionable new trends, or tolerance of sin. Only the Church can offer people comfort and hope and unite society around Christ.
As the UOJ reported, Yelensky told Danish church leaders that fears about the closure of parishes and the confiscation of UOC property are "groundless speculation."
