UOC bishop: Founders of OCU didn't consider loyalty of believers to Christ
Metropolitan Varsonofy (Stoliar) of Vinnytsia and Bar. Photo: eparhia.vinnica.ua
The scheme to transfer the UOC communities to the new structure did not work in spite of pressure from the state, because its authors did not take into account the loyalty of ordinary believers and priests to Christ, said Metropolitan Varsonofy of Vinnytsia and Bar in an interview to the press service of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Vladyka Varsonofy said that Vinnytsia became one of the springboards for testing Poroshenko's schemes to transfer churches to the OCU.
"There was a kind of testing ground here," the hierarch noted. “The president's administration had a program for transferring UOC congregations and pressuring bishops and priests to get them to transfer to the new structure."
According to the metropolitan, in order to seize the UOC congregations, the ideologues of the OCU applied "a business structure scheme, which they intended to leverage over the Church."
"But they did not take into account, as His Beatitude said, that the Church as an organism consists of believers and the latter will not trade the most valuable thing in their life – loyalty to Christ – for anything," emphasized Bishop Varsonofy.
He noted that despite serious attempts and pressure on the clergy, the founders of the OCU were not able to implement their project as a whole. In the Vinnytsia diocese about twenty priests, "who were directly dependent on the former ruling bishop," moved to the new structure.
"All the rest, which is about 260 priests, remained faithful to Christ despite the oppression of the local authorities," emphasized Metropolitan Varsonofy.
As the UOJ reported, Epiphany Dumenko said that the UOC congregations are not moving to the OCU because they have new churches built for them.
Read also
Petition Warns Canada’s Hate Speech Law Could Criminalize Scripture
Thousands of Canadians have signed a petition urging the Liberal government to drop proposed hate-speech changes that critics warn could criminalize quoting the Bible and other religious texts.
JD Vance: Criticizing Israel Is Not Antisemitism
Vice President JD Vance said opposing Israeli policies is not the same as antisemitism, sparking debate over where criticism of Israel ends and hatred of Jews begins.
First Orthodox Prayer Book Published in Indonesian Language
The first Orthodox prayer book in Indonesian has been published and presented in Bekasi, providing local faithful and new converts with a vital resource for prayer and liturgical life.
OCA Joins Legal Challenge to Illinois Abortion Referral Law
Amicus brief argues mandate violates religious freedom and compels pro-life providers to contradict their faith.
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked Ukrainian Memo Says Religious Freedom is ‘Achilles Heel’
In an emergency strategy meeting held in response to the Society of St. John's Day of Action, D.C.-based Ukrainian lobbyists acknowledged the weight of the religious freedom issue as it pertains to the Ukrainian government’s public perception.
Historic $2.9 Million Bequest Strengthens Greek Orthodox Foundation
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago Foundation has received a record $2.9 million bequest from the late Andy Efthim, a devoted layman whose faith-filled generosity will support the Church’s mission for generations.