Priest from Katerynivka: I still urge the invaders of the temple to repent

Rector of the Panteleimon parish of the UOC in Katerynivka, Ternopil region, Archpriest Sergiy Gladun. Photo: a video screenshot from the UOJ Youtube channel

Rector of the Panteleimon parish of the UOC in Katerynivka, Ternopil region, Archpriest Sergiy Gladun, in the new UOJ project “Faithful. Healing in Katerynivka”, dedicated to the life of the believers of the canonical Church who survived the bloody seizure of St. George's Church in 2015, spoke about their readiness to forgive fellow villagers who had gone into schism in the event of their repentance.

“I will embrace and never remember,” the priest described his readiness to forgive those who stumbled, succumbed to propaganda, and now feel remorse but are ashamed to come with repentance. “On more than one occasion in the sermon, I call upon all people and say to all my people: dear ones, tell them that whoever wants to come to us, I will embrace, I will never remember. Who will come, who will repent in our holy Church – I will never remember any grievances and I will treat this with understanding,” Father Sergiy said.

He noted that as the Savior taught to rejoice for every sinner who repents of his sins, so he is ready to accept everyone who understands their sin but thinks how to look into the eyes of the rector and parishioners of the persecuted UOC community. “As it is written in the Holy Gospel, in the heaven they rejoice more for one repentant sinner than for 99 righteous men, so we must take a lesson and force yourself to love your neighbour, and if there is such an opportunity – to accept those who repent and return,” resumed Father Sergiy.

As reported, the court closed the case against the head of the UOC community in the village of Katerynivka.

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