In OCU, ex-UAOC bishops complain about persecution by ex-UOC KP supporters

Protsyk and Kryzyna. Photo: Kryzyna's Facebook

Havryil Kryzyna, the "Bishop of Rivne and Sarny," took to his Facebook page ahead of the anniversary of the "unification council" to express grievances within the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Kryzyna complained about the lack of unity within the OCU, alleging persecution of clergy from the former Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) by those affiliated with the former Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP).

According to Kryzyna, "dean" Danylo Kovtash, associated with the structure of Archbishop Hryhoriy Protsyk of Rivne and Ostrih, refused to concelebrate with Kryzyna and prohibited other priests from doing so.

Kryzyna demanded that Protsyk dismiss Kovtash, threatening to report the issue to Metropolitan Epifaniy and the "Holy Synod" if no action is taken.

Kryzyna also accused his competitors of working for Moscow. In the comments, another former UAOC "bishop," Volodymyr Shlapak, claimed a similar situation in the Zhytomyr region.

OCU "priest" Mykola Lahodych commented that such situations are not unique to the Polissia region, expressing the opinion that this will persist as long as there are three bishops of the OCU in one city. Another OCU "priest", Serhiy Yarovyi, lamented the lack of unity in the OCU over the past five years and criticized the existence of "parallel dioceses" through non-canonical means.

Yarovyi stated, "It's very sad when there is no unity in the OCU. Because the bishops themselves talk about it. In particular, in this post – Bishops Havryil and Volodymyr Shlapak. This is terrible. It turns out, as the bishops testify, that OCU unity is a simple fake. There is no unity. Then how can we call on the UOC-MP to unity with us? Another question, why is there no unity in the OCU? What has been done for this unity for five whole years? Why do non-canonical so-called 'parallel dioceses' still exist, where there can be two, three, or more dioceses in one territory? This is complete canonical nonsense!"

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Dumenko, eventually, everyone will be in the OCU – whether they want it or not.

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