UOC hierarch: Many are ill with COVID, but media prefers to notice only UOC
Metropolitan Anthony recalled that the virus does not choose its victims and drew attention to the media bias towards the Church.
On May 9, 2020, after praying and laying flowers at the Eternal Flame in the Park of Eternal Glory, the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary answered journalists' questions about the selective approach of some media to reporting on coronavirus incidence statistics.
“This is really a selective approach. The virus does not choose people of a particular faith, denomination, social status, political preference, etc. This is a disease that can affect every person,” the UOJ cites the words of Metropolitan Anthony. “We see that different people are dying: both scientists, and representatives of the Greek Catholic Church, and representatives of the OCU. Unfortunately, the monks of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra also died, but for some reason the emphasis is really only on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”
The bishop noted that it seems that the problem in this case is created artificially, and some media seemed to be waiting for diseases in order to attack the UOC again.
“But we are believers, and we perceive everything that the Lord sends us with confidence in God’s providence,” continued Metropolitan Anthony. “We pray for all who are ill, for those who sympathize with us and for those who, unfortunately, do not sympathize so that the Lord will protect them from this misfortune. And we hope that with God's help, with the help of doctors who are working on the front lines of this new war against the epidemic, we will all win.”
The hierarch of the UOC congratulated everyone on Victory Day, urged them to sympathize with each other, and also wished that the Lord would grant everyone victory over sins and illnesses.
Earlier, he reminded the public that May 9 is a celebration of the preservation of the Ukrainian people on the world map.
