Metropolitan Onufriy, the Primate of the UOC (affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate), claimed that the priests who had not left the territories captured by the enemy, “sacrificing their image or lives to help people survive, are not collaborators, but real heroes,” SPZh reports.
“A collaborator is someone who betrays the interests of their people and works for the benefit of others. Our priests are not collaborators. <…> Collaborators are those who left their people to fend for themselves in difficult times. Let each of us look into their heart and check whether they themselves are collaborators,” said Metropolitan Onufriy.
As the leader of the UOC (MP) added, “those who condemn a priest who helps his people are themselves collaborators because they work against their people.”
“And if someone does not agree with the above, I suggest that they go to the occupied territories and do something better for the survival of our people than what our priests are doing now. I appeal to such people: please show us an example. And if you can’t do it, keep silent and pray,” concluded Onufriy.
