The process of religious communities joining the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has been suspended over a range of legal disputes. However, almost all lawsuits launched by the Moscow Patriarchate were ultimately won by the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as the truth stands with the latter.
That’s according to the OCU Primate, Metropolitan Epifaniy, who spoke with journalists in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukrinform reports.
“This process has been suspended for certain reasons. There is now a legal battle as regards each community that has joined us. There are about 700 of them. We are now defending ourselves in the legal field. The Moscow Patriarchate has lost almost all lawsuits it has filed. We’ve been winning because the truth is on our side. We defend it and we want everything to be in line with Ukrainian legislation,” said Metropolitan Epifaniy.
The church leader added that now the OCU is expecting a new round of communities’ transition as many of them are waiting for the right moment to this end.
“Currently, there are communities that are gradually joining us, while not advertising this fact. They are making decisions and applying for registration, while still being wary of opposition. Unfortunately, there are forces opposing this, portraying the process for the rest of the world as if Ukraine is seeing a seizure of temples, which is not the case. Our position is clear and understandable – we want things to go peacefully, calmly, voluntarily, and in the legal field exclusively. In many communities, people tell me that they’re ready, but only if they simply have to change the sign. They understand that there will be confrontation, there will be opposition on the part of pro-Russian forces in Ukraine, some people could be specifically brought in, and assaults could be set up. That’s why we have no desire to open in Ukraine yet another religious front. We already have enough of the fight in the east of Ukraine and the fight against a dangerous viral disease,” Epifaniy said.
According to him, the religious front would only weaken the Ukrainian state, while the OCU doesn’t want that, because a strong Ukrainian state, Epifaniy is confident, will contribute to addressing all issues the way Ukrainians want.
As reported earlier, on July 7 Metropolitan Epiphany led an all-Ukrainian pilgrimage to the Manyavsky Monastery.
