The Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine is almost the only religious organization in Ukraine that refrains from issuing any official statements about the extremely tense military and political situation between Ukraine and Russia. At the same time, hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine are spreading soothing messages among the faithful: there will be no war, there is no need to panic, the Religion in Ukraine outlet reports.
Despite the demonstratively passive attitude of the ROCinU leadership to the main topic of global news around Ukraine, the faithful of this Church have already begun to prepare for war, search for safe places, share maps of bomb shelters, etc., when the long-awaited news came from the ROC leadership: “There will be no war!”
This was announced on Sunday, January 30, on the feast of Anthony the Great, as Metropolitan Pavlo (Lebid), a member of the ROCinU Synod, delivered his sermon. From the pulpit, he assured the faithful that “there will be no war,” called for this to be seen as “truth,” and accused “enemies of the church, enemies of our country” of suggesting Russia could possibly attack Ukraine. Even if war breaks out, Bishop Pavlo said, there is no need to be afraid of it, because no one will be saved anyway.
We present a quote from the sermon, whose audio version has been distributed across ROCinU’s parish networks.
“This week I had a trip – to the Trinity-Sergiy Lavra, to Moscow – and many people are calling me here and there, worried that there will be a war. There will be no war! Believe it is true. Because it’s not so easy… People heard what the enemies of our church, the enemies of our country say – that when [the land] freezes over, tanks will move in. Does frost really play a role given today’s technologies? People are being intimidated, many are already saying they have left Kyiv, they have left Ukraine, but nothing will happen, because the Holy Scriptures say about it: that in last times they will talk about peace, about love, about what they [enemies] say, but will prepare people in every possible way. I ask all of you and I appeal to you: try to go to church, read kafisms at home, read the Gospel, ask for peace in our country. Ask our people for understanding. May the Lord bring out of our country and away from our people those who sow enmity. Because, unfortunately, Ukraine is not commanded or ruled by Ukrainians, but by those who want to rule the world or have already intimidated everyone and are threatening the use of terrible force. Today… Read the life of Anthony the Great, everything is laid down there. Do not be afraid, even if you have to suffer for Christ, give your soul, because Christ said: He who loses his soul for my sake will save it.
If there is a global catastrophe, which there won’t be either, the Holy Scriptures testify – no one will be saved. But it is best to stay in the church of Christ, which I ask you to do. No need to reflect: there will be a war, I’ll run away… Where will you be running away from God to? Nowhere. Therefore, put your trust in God, go to work, try to do all your work before the Lord, while those who hope to intimidate us today, will be shamed by the Lord and driven away with terrible fire, while God will give us all peace, health, and salvation. Happy holiday to you! ”
Sources of Metropolitan Pavlo’s knowledge remain unknown, but ROCinU networks suggest that he received information from clairvoyant elders in Moscow.
However, this fragment of Bishop Pavlo’s sermon is not quoted on the ROCinU media resources, and neither is it on the website of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. It is also omitted in the news about the Sunday service.
However, on February 10-11, another member of the Synod, the head of the ROCinU Office, Metropolitan Antoniy (Pakanych), called on the secular and church media to “not succumb to panic.” Bishop Antoniy did not draw any connection between his speech and the tense situation near Ukraine’s borders, but insisted that “panic destroys not only the mental world within each of us, but also the foundations of the Fatherland’s well-being,” therefore people must look at tomorrow with confidence.”
Meanwhile, Donetsk oligarchs and businessmen are taking chartered flights to flee Ukraine. The Ukrainian Pravda outlet notes that Rinat Akhmetov and Borys Kolesnikov were among those who had flown off private jets. Akhmetov flew from Ukraine to Zurich on January 30, the day Metropolitan Pavlo delivered his sermon. On the same day, mogul Viktor Pinchuk left, too.
It should be recalled that on February 11, the Moscow Patriarch called the Donetsk Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church to get briefed on the latest developments.
