His Beatitude: UOC priests are not collaborators, but real national heroes

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: news.church.ua

Answering the questions of correspondents of the "Academic Chronicle" journal, the Primate of the UOC His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry stated that the priests who did not leave the territories, seized by the enemy, and remained there, sacrificing their image or life to help people survive, are not collaborators, but real heroes.

"Before answering this question, I would like to clarify what the term ‘collaborator’ means. A collaborator is someone who betrays the interests of his people and cooperates treasonably for the benefit of others. Our priests are not recognized as collaborators. <...> Collaborators are those who, in difficult times, leave their people to the mercy of fate. Let each of us look into our hearts and check whether we ourselves are collaborators," said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.

As the Archpastor noted, "he who condemns a priest that helps his people is himself a collaborator, because he works against his people."

"And if someone does not agree with the above, I suggest that he/she 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 cannot do this, then keep silent and pray," His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry concluded.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church explained in his homily why the proud, unlike the humble, are always unhappy.

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