Khmelnytskyi bishop: Authorities want to merge us with OCU, canons ignored

Archbishop Viktor (Kotsaba). Photo: a screenshot of the “Tetiana Tsaruk Channel. In Search of the Truth".

The Ukrainian authorities want to create a united local Church, but they don't take into account the church's canons," said Archbishop Viktor, the ruling bishop of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy, in an interview with the "Tetiana Tsaruk. In Search of the Truth".

"The authorities in their own way see how to unite Ukrainian Orthodoxy, to create a single local Church. But they do not take into account important canonical aspects on which church life is built," the bishop said.

According to him, the UOC is ready for dialogue, but on the terms outlined by the Council of Feofaniya.

"There are established canonical postulates that cannot be crossed. Because if we overstep them, the faithful people will not support us. Moreover, other Local Churches will not support us," the bishop said and reminded that the majority, 11 churches, recognize as the legitimate the Church of Ukraine which is headed by Metropolitan Onuphry.

According to him, the foundation of Ukrainian Orthodoxy must necessarily include the canonical order of the Church. Only then will the Church in Ukraine endure until the end of time.

Earlier the UOJ wrote that the UOC revealed whether the SBU had initiated the Feofaniya Council.

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