OCU Bishop: 'Our Churches Stand Empty'

Divine Litugy in the Pochaiv Lavra. Source: UOJ

KYIV — Metropolitan Alexander Drabynko of the schismatic Orthodox Chuch of Ukraine (OCU) spoke out against attempts to seize the Pochaiv Lavra from the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), pointing to problems within the OCU itself, according to UOJ's Ukrainian bureau.

Speaking about the situation at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Drabynko noted the stark contrast compared to the time when it was under the UOC. “Life used to be vibrant. Nine Liturgies were served daily, there were pilgrims, candles were bought, prayer requests were taken. Now in the Lavra—silence, animation, five newly tonsured monks,” he said.

A similar situation, in Drabynko’s view, has taken hold in many cities where the OCU has become dominant. “The churches stand empty," he said.

“And we still want to take the Pochaiv Lavra?" Drabynko asked. "Until the leadership of the OCU and the UOC-MP [sic] sit down at the negotiating table, this issue cannot be resolved,” the Metropolitan declared.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Drabynko, in his Pereyaslav-Vyshneve Diocese there are churches where the UOC's primate, Onuphry, is commemorated rather than OCU primate, Epiphanius.

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