Kiev, December 15, 2020
dailycaller.com
The schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” created and approved of by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, has offered its blessing and full support to an LGBT organization in all its “God-pleasing work” and its labors to “spread true Christian values.”
Documents published on politforums.net show that the primate of the OCU, “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko, and “Metropolitan” Vladimir of Nikolaev offered their blessing and full support to the LiGA LGBT association, which held the Days of Equality and Pride LGBT event online in Nikolaev from December 8 to 12.
politforums.net The ukaz of Epiphany Dumenko, dated December 7, just before the start of the pride event, specifically calls for the local diocese to support LIGA in organizing its events:
“The ruling Bishop of the Nikolaev Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Vladimir of Nikolaev and Bogoyavlensk, should provide full support to the LiGA civil organization in God-pleasing matters and bless it for holding public events, as well as assist in all endeavors.”
The letter from “Metropolitan” Vladimir of Nikolaev, issued on December 9, in the midst of the pride event, reads:
“I would like to express my gratitude to the LEAGUE of brothers and sisters civic organization for spreading true Christian values, principles of equality, and love for one’s neighbor, as well as for its great contribution to the development of a new European society. The Nikolaev Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphany of Kiev and All Ukraine, wholeheartedly supports the good initiatives of the association and will continue to undertake to provide any possible assistance in this cause pleasing to God.”
politforums.net
Epiphany Dumenko revealed his vision for the OCU vis-à-vis the LGBT community soon after his election as primate in December 2018 when he stated that the OCU needs to work on softening its views towards the LGBT community and supporting the gay community in Ukraine in order to not be like the conservative Russian Church.
“We are moving towards Europe, and therefore we should depart from the Russian conservative tradition,” he said.
Among the first organizations to congratulate the OCU on its creation in December 2018 was the KyivPride, a gay activist group based in the Ukrainian capital.
“KyivPride congratulates all LGBTI Orthodox believers on the formation of a united and independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church and reminds everyone that love does no harm to others!” the organization wrote.
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