Georgian hierarch: Prayer of Met. Onuphry will help Ukraine withstand
Georgian hierarch, Met. Seraphim, considers the UOC Primate an example of humble ruler, whose prayer will help Ukraine and its Church withstand the severe test.
On December 20, 2019, the UOC delegation, which is staying in Georgia these days, met with Metropolitan Seraphim (Jojua) of Borjomi and Bakuriani, a retired hierarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, reports the UOJ correspondent.
Conversing with the Ukrainian delegation, the hierarch of the Georgian Church conveyed words of support to the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
“I pray for your Primate. At the same time, it should be noted that the bulk of our media generally ignores the fact that Ukraine has its own autonomous canonical Church, headed by its Primate, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine. They are touting our people that young layman, who is called the "Metropolitan of Kiev", and speak only about this church organization. However, in the episcopate, the overwhelming majority of bishops, along with our Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, share my support for the UOC.”
Metropolitan Seraphim considers His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry to be a role model of a humble ruler, whose prayer will help Ukraine and its Church to withstand during the days of severe trials, to strengthen the UOC and the Ukrainian state.
“If the authorities try to wage the war against the Church, their days will be numbered, and we, the elderly hierarchs, remember well how this has happened more than once,” says Vladyka.
Regarding the fact of pressure on the Church in terms of recognition of the OCU, the hierarch of the Georgian Church said that it is quite tangible.
Recall that a delegation of believers and the clergy of the UOC is staying in Georgia these days.