Head of Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (ROCOR) Condemns "examination" of Kiev-Caves Saint's Relics

"They are trying to put a scientific face on the defacing of Orthodox Holy things and the Orthodox people. You have myrrh-gushing skulls there, how do you [scientifically] explain that? You can't. This is just a facade, something palpable to the Western world, to justify the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church."

Drawing historical parallels, the archimandrite likened the actions of the Ministry of Culture to the "research programs" of the Soviet regime, during which the relics and holy things of the Church were seized, discredited, and even destroyed under the guise of "scientific inquiry.

"Like I said, it's a facade. This is just a continuation of what they did in the twentieth century in Russia, in the communist regimes of Romania, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, and it is terrible."

In his statement, Fr. Roman reminds us that while the times and titles of the Church's oppressors may change, who is ultimately behind them remains the same.

"This is the devil, bringing out his full armies against the Church, the same as they did in the twentieth century, and we as Orthodox Christians seem to have learned very little from our past, and we just continue to follow the ways of this world, forgetting the one thing needful."

Fr. Roman joins a growing choir of Orthodox clergy and faithful around the world who are speaking out against the treatment of the UOC. His words are as much a call for spiritual vigilance as they are a call for the repentance of the UOC's persecutors. The desecration of the relics of the Saints of the Kiev Caves is an assault on all Orthodox Christians, a continuation of the devil's war on the Christian faith, but Fr. Roman reminds us that the faithful must stand firm, remembering that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church.

"We often forget the one thing needful. We must struggle to live a Christ-like life—as much as we can. We must read the Holy Scriptures daily; that doesn't mean hours, but ten, fifteen minutes. Read a chapter in the Gospel, read the epistles of St. Paul, and so, it's already in you. Raise Christian children. Instead of taking your children to see Disney, raise them on the lives of the saints; that way, they have St. Seraphim of Sarov or St. Sergius of Radonezh in their mind—instead of Mickey Mouse. St. Seraphim says that when we acquire the spirit of peace, thousands around us will be saved—God willing."

UOJ-Greece previously reported on Fr. Anastasios Gotsopoulos' appeal to the hierarchs of the Greek Church regarding events at the Lavra,. and those of the Odessa Eparchy.

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