Kiev, July 24, 2019
Though the ancient Orthodox land of Ukraine suffers from the spiritual chaos of nationalistic and violent schisms, the suffering brought on by such situations is an opportunity for the faithful to be spiritually perfected, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine teaches his flock.
Prayers and patience in difficult situations make a person more spiritually perfect, His Beatitude said in a new interview with the Ukrainian Church’s Pastor and Flock magazine.
“Patriarch Bartholomew violated the canonical norms and rules of Church life. He provoked spiritual chaos in our country that has filled the hearts of many of the faithful children of our holy canonical Church with bitterness,” the Ukrainian primate said.
However, “Through these tribulations caused for us, the Lord gives us the chance to show our love and fidelity to Him, love for the pure Orthodox faith, and also to strengthen our prayers for one another and for those who cause us sorrow. Love, prayer, and patience make a man more perfect and spiritually better,” Met. Onuphry explained.
He also noted that the “church” created by Patriarch Bartholomew is a political organization and tries to make the Church a servant of politics. Created through deception and lawlessness, the contention that is now taking place within it is absolutely natural, Met. Onuphry believes.
The “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” is “an organization in which man does not fulfill the will of God, but forces God to full his will. This is wrong and very sad,” His Beatitude reflected.
Further, the primate stated that “If a person wants to seek the Kingdom of God and the truth of God, that is, he wants to prepare his soul for blessed eternity, then he should go to the UOC [the canonical Church—O.C.], but if he wants to deceive people and blow religious-political smoke, then the OCU [the schismatic church—O.C.] is more suitable for him.”
The true Church calls on the latter to come to their senses and to cease deceiving themselves and others, “for deception is the invention of the father of lies—the devil, and he never leads to anything good.”
“Man, be faithful to God, love God, love people, love Truth, and you will know blessings not only in eternity, but also here, on earth,” Met. Onuphry called.
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