Patriotism cannot be a reason for hatred, – Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol

A believer differs from an unbeliever in that he, as the Holy Fathers said, having an earthly residence, remains a citizen of Heaven, said the Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan of Borispol and Brovary Anthony, in an interview with Pravmir.

"Modern life is very politicized and, unfortunately, there are forces that would like the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to live such a political life. But the Church is founded by our Lord Jesus Christ for one purpose – for a human to come to God. The church takes care of the immortal soul of man.

Yes, we live in a specific historical situation. We love our Motherland, we are worried about it. But a believer differs from an unbeliever in that he, as the Holy Fathers said, having an earthly residence, remains a citizen of Heaven. This balance of the earthly and the heavenly, the temporal and the eternal is the litmus which shows the faith of man.

It is very difficult to live when sometimes everything is filled with aggression, hatred, intolerance. And it depends on a believer whether they can save their inner world or not. The believer does not have the right to respond aggressively to aggression. Otherwise, we are no different from non-believers. The Lord said that there is only one sign that distinguishes Christians from others – this is love. If there is love with us, then we are Christians," Vladyka emphasized.