His Beatitude Onuphry responds to those who accuse UOC of self-isolation

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine. Photo:facebook.com

On December 23, 2019, during the annual Diocesan Meeting of the Kiev Eparchy of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine explained that the accusations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s striving for self-isolation are absolutely groundless, the UOC Information Center reports.

“There can be no self-isolation when it comes to the true faith and sacrificial standing for the purity of the canonical structure and teachings of the Church,” the Primate emphasized.

The First Hierarch noted that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church ruptured the Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople "and with those Churches and hierarchs that recognized schismatics in order to protect the canonical and spiritual purity of the Church of Christ."

“The Patriarchate of Constantinople began to allow for concelebration with the persons who do not have valid episcopal, priestly and deacon’s ordinations, which is blasphemy and abuse of the Holy Eucharist. As you know, one of the basic principles of the canon law of the Orthodox Church is that anyone who engages in Eucharistic communion with an excommunicated person is excommunicated from communion with the Church themselves,” said the Primate.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry urged priests and believers to “preach the Gospel and do good deeds despite all difficulties without fear and doubt,” and recalled that the Church would survive whatever circumstances could be.

“We need to do our job, without unnecessary pathos, courageously remaining faithful to Christ,” concluded the Primate.

As the UOJ reported, earlier the Primate of the UOC called to adamantly stand for the Church which is created by God, not by people.

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