Novinsky: Authorities do not use peacemaking potential of UOC at all

Vadim Novinsky. Photo: pravda.com.ua

The authorities generally do not use the peacekeeping potential of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, said people's deputy and protodeacon of the UOC Vadim Novinsky in an interview with "Ukrainska Pravda", published on July 7, 2021.

According to the people's deputy, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andrey Yermak, who deals with the issues of peace negotiations and exchange of captives, has some dialogue on this topic with the leadership of the UOC, "but I believe that the peacemaking potential of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is not used at all".

“I believe that the Church, like no other institution in the country, has a tremendous potential in this matter, which no one uses. Why? Because the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has parishes of its diocese absolutely throughout the entire territory of Ukraine, including the Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk,” explained Vadim Novinsky.

He recalled that Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea and Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol are members of the Holy Synod of the UOC. Metropolitan Mitrofan of Luhansk and Alchevsk, who, unfortunately, has recently reposed, was also a member of the Synod.

“And none of the priests ran away anywhere, neither on the line of contact, nor near those places where military operations are being conducted now, but they are carrying out their pastoral activities,” Vadim Novinsky said.

Earlier, a hierarch of the UOC recalled the role of the Church in the exchange of prisoners.

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