Metropolitan Anthony: Church supports all peace initiatives of President

The UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary. Photo: antoniy.com.ua

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church supports all peace initiatives of the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky and highly appreciates his position on the Church-state relationship. Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary, the UOC Сhancellor, spoke about this in an exclusive interview with the UOJ.

“We support all peace initiatives of Vladimir Zelensky, both in the external and internal spheres, and believe that the key to effective relations between the Church and the state can only be objectivity, impartiality and an equal attitude on the part of the authorities towards all faiths,” Metropolitan Anthony emphasized.

Church-state relations should be built on the basis of the Constitution, which clearly establishes the principle of non-interference of the state in church affairs and processes, explained the UOC Chancellor.

“I can imagine what a scandal would be if some religious organization began to act in this way. For example, to dictate to the state which ministry is considered legitimate and which is not, which decree to sign by the President, and which is not, and the like,” he continued.

It is abnormal when officials interfere in the religious sphere supposedly to meet the rights of a certain category of believers, Metropolitan Anthony added.

“That is why we greatly appreciate the position of the current President of Ukraine, who noted that it is necessary to speak very carefully on such sensitive issues as religion,” the UOC Chancellor concluded.

Earlier, he gave the number of temples of the canonical Church seized by activists of the OCU. 

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