Metropolitan Luke speaks about whether UOC will go underground
The ruling bishop of the Zaporizhzhia Eparchy spoke about an appeal to the faithful that was adopted at the diocesan assembly.
Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol, responding to a question from journalist Oleksandr Shelest about whether the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) would go underground if it is banned, said he has called on the clergy and laity of the Church to prepare for such a possible development.
Metropolitan Luke stated that perhaps some might want to stay “at the feeding trough” and do what the authorities demand, as even Judas betrayed Christ. At the same time, the UOC hierarch spoke about a meeting of the Zaporizhzhia Eparchy, which included not only clergy but also laypeople, during which a unanimous decision was made to follow Christ to the end. "Therefore, I told the priests to prepare, to preserve everything necessary for worship, to look for places {where people could gather for prayer, – Ed.}... We are preparing our people for this.”
As previously reported by UOJ, the clergy of the Zaporizhzhia Eparchy addressed the faithful due to the passing of law 8371.
