The head of the OCU, Metropolitan Epifaniy, has appealed to the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine to unite.
“Dear bishops, fathers, brothers, and sisters! You, like all of us, are suffering from the Russian invasion. Every Russian bomb, rocket, and shell dropped on the Ukrainian soil finally kills the myths of ‘Holy Russia’ and the ‘Triune People.’ Many of you are already thinking about the fact that it is no longer possible to remain under the jurisdiction of the Russian patriarch. You have always declared your devotion to the canons, and the canons stipulate that there should be a single Local Church in Ukraine. We urge you to take the canonical path – the path of unity,” Metropolitan Epifaniy said in a statement, posted on the OCU website.
The head of the OCU has noted that it will not be easy for many to do so.
“We understand that for many, it won’t be easy to follow this path. Therefore, I suggest: those who are ready and willing to join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine – our doors and our hearts are open to you! Both individual communities and entire dioceses can do this, become part of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Those who are not ready for such a step can show their good intentions to co-serve with us, as is customary among the clergy of different jurisdictions, such as in the diaspora. Who does not dare to do so – at least publicly declare a demand to your leadership not just to stop mentioning the name of the Moscow Patriarch, but to gain full independence of Moscow with the earliest changes in the Statute,” said the Metropolitan.
“‘The Russian world’ has brought terrible sorrow to our land, so it is necessary to break with this bloody chauvinistic ideology forever. To the faithful of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and to our supporters, I would like to renew my request, expressed earlier: do not succumb to emotions, give our brothers the opportunity to walk the path to unity. We need a truly conscious unity because only in this way will it be true and strong,” the head of the OCU added.
“Today I offer my prayers for the Ukrainian soldiers, for the president and the state, for all of you and I call on the Lord’s blessing! God the Great, the One, save Ukraine for us!” he concluded.
It should be recalled that earlier it became known that fifteen hierarchs of the UOC-MP (ROCinU) refused to mention the name of Moscow Patriarch Kirill.
