UOC: Attempts to change status of the Church in Ukraine only deepen schism
Hierarchs of the UOC regret that those engaged in the church schism today use power to justify and legalize their sin against the Church.
The Church of Christ should not be an instrument in the hands of any state or political ideology, wherever it comes from, says the Appeal of the Episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the clergy, monastics and laity on the occasion of the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Kievan Rus.
"Today our Church is facing lots of challenges. Over the last months in the information sphere of our country disputes about the possibility of granting Tomos on autocephaly have been boiling. We affirm that the existing canonical status of our Church is now sufficient to enable it to fulfill its mission fruitfully among its people," the hierarchs believe.
According to them, attempts to change this status will only lead to the restriction of the rights and freedoms our Church is endowed with, having the rights of broad autonomy: "These attempts will not cure, but deepen the split in both Ukrainian Orthodoxy and in Ukrainian society. This also concerns the possible creation of parallel ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Ukraine."
"At the same time, we are witnessing attempts by external forces to turn the Church into a constituent of geopolitics, ideology and state security, which is publicly spoken about in the public space. Such statements and such attempts raise concern with us, because this contradicts the vocation of the Church," says the appeal.
The episcopate of the UOC explains: "The Ukrainian Orthodox Church stands in defense of the canonical foundations of its existence, in defense of its believers, who are often slandered and expelled from their temples, in defense of internal church freedom from interference of political forces.
We are convinced that the Church of Christ should not be a tool in the hands of any state or political ideology, no matter where it comes from.
At the same time, this does not mean that the Church should be detached from the people and actual problems, experienced by real people, society or the state. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church educates people in real patriotism, that is, love for God, for the neighbor and for the native land. Only such patriotism can be a sound foundation for the state consolidation.
We regret the fact that those engaged in the church schism today use power in order to justify and legalize their sin against the Church. It is a pity that their destructive activities, constant informational attacks and slander against the Church lead to what the apostle Peter warned about: "through them the way of truth will be in disgrace" (2 Pet 2: 1-2). As a result, many people who could come to the bosom of the Church, do not come because they are distracted by such activities. We hope that those who do so are aware of the consequences of their actions and will stop harming the Church of Christ."
Earlier, on June 25, the hierarchs adopted a joint statement in which they expressed their vision for the further development of the mission of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukrainian society.
