Bulgarian bishop: Not only faith but also UOC believers’ lives under threat

Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin. Photo: pravoslavie.ru

Metropolitan Daniel of Vidin, the bishop of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, delivered a video message, where he specifically addressed the issue of persecution against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, saying that not only the faith but also the lives of UOC believers who do not want to be in the OCU are under threat, reports romfea.gr.

"The Ukrainian Orthodox Church proved that it is the mother of this people, which takes care of its children. At the same time, the authorities and the majority of people, who have an extreme nationalist consciousness, do not tolerate their compatriots, who advocate the Orthodox faith," said the hierarch.

Vladyka Daniel noted that laws are being prepared under which it will be impossible for Ukrainians to practice the Orthodox faith.

"Why? Because there is an ‘ecclesiastical’ structure created a few years ago with the substantial participation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which, not without reason, is not recognized by the majority of the Orthodox Churches. It has several problems in terms of its hierarchy, which is made up of non-ordained persons, who were called priests and high priests. The Ukrainians themselves see this and have endured persecution for several years. And now they see how those, who forcibly seize churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, set them on fire, demolish them, and then worship in the occupied churches on behalf of the "Orthodox Church of Ukraine". This clearly proves what their beliefs and opinions are, and that is why people do not want to join them. People see that there is no talk of faith but of intense nationalism. It is not about Orthodox faith, but about ‘Ukraine uber alles!’," he added.

The Bulgarian hierarch noted that this intense nationalism also shows intolerance towards people who identify themselves as Ukrainians.

"Already the first after the 2014 coup President Petro Poroshenko devised the creation of an ‘ecclesiastical’ structure, the ‘Orthodox Church of Ukraine’, which became autonomous, with the cooperation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which granted it the "tomos"… At the end of Poroshenko's term, a law banning the UOC was devised and discussed. Since then this has given nationalists an excuse to seize churches by force and join them to the 'OCU'," he continued.

"No nation can accept something like this, but in Ukraine this is happening,” emphasized Metropolitan Daniel. “We see that not only the faith itself is threatened but also the physical integrity of the people, who do not wish to join the "Orthodox Church of Ukraine". Let us ask ourselves: do these people not need protection? Why isn't anyone talking about what's going on Why are collaborators with Nazi Germany criticized everywhere and such a thing is not tolerated by society, while in Ukraine it is not only allowed but also glorified? This clearly demonstrates the duplicity and hypocrisy of politicians, who are willingly blind to what is going on."

As reported, Bulgarian believers are praying for the persecuted Ukrainian Church.

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