UOC-KP cleric repents and returns to Ovruch Eparchy of UOC

In Korosten, a cleric of the UOC-KP has returned to the bosom of the canonical Church. Photo: ovruch.church.ua.

On March 10, 2020, in the Cathedral of Korosten, Deacon Georgy Shevchuk, who had previously served in the UOC-KP, repented in the presence of the ruling bishop of the Ovruch Eparchy, Metropolitan Vissarion,  and returned to the bosom of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reports the press service of the eparchy.

"We accept you with peace and love – said the bishop – and we rejoice at your return to the Holy Church of Christ, which in Ukraine is headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine".

Together with the deacon, the penitential letter was written by the residents of the village of Osovka who had also been in schism before. Now they have expressed a desire to build an Orthodox church in their village.

According to Father Georgy, he was agitated to move to the OCU, but he believes that this is a politicized structure, which incites hostility and hatred.

"I believe the words of Christ the Savior: ‘I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’ This legitimate Church exists in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, and around the world. And that is why I want to be in God's Church of Christ, and not in the Filaret-Poroshenko-Epiphany politically engaged structure,” said the deacon. “<...> Once again, I repent of my disobedience to you as a legal diocesan bishop. I apologize to the Lord Jesus Christ, Your Eminence, the church Orthodox people".

As reported earlier, the rector of the St. Seraphim of Sarov Chuch of Kazatin Archpriest Roman Asafa addressed Metropolitan Varsonofy of Vinnytsia and Bar with a letter, in which he repented of the sin of falling into schism.

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