KIRILL REACTS TO DECISION OF LOCAL COUNCIL OF U.P.Ts.M.P.
The primate of the RPTs (Russian Orthodox Church), Kirill, commented for the first time on the decision of the UPTsMP (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate) regarding its "complete self-government and independence" from the Moscow patriarchate. This is reported by Radio Liberty.
In a sermon after the liturgy in Moscow's church of Christ the Savior, Kirill said that "he views "with understanding" the position of Metropolitan of Kiev Onufry and the episcopate of the UPTsMP, who, in his words, must act "with maximum wisdom" in order "not to complicate the life of their believing people."
At the same time, the patriarch of Moscow added that no temporary hindrances should destroy the "spiritual unity of our people." Kirill said that some "spirits of wickedness in high places" [Ephesians 6.12—tr. note] are striving to divide the "Orthodox people of Rus and Ukraine" and to cause an abyss to lie between them, but they will not succeed "inasmuch as all these efforts are not from God."
Earlier a Russian metropolitan of the RPTs,
Ilarion, declared
that the amendments introduced into the charter of the Ukrainian
Orthodox
Church of the Moscow Patriarchate have not changed in any way
its status within
the Moscow patriarchate. In his opinion, the UPTs simply
attested once again
that it is autonomous. (tr. by PDS, posted 29 May 2022)
PATRIARCH KIRILL SAYS HE VIEWS DECISION BY U.P.Ts. LEADERSHIP WITH UNDERSTANDING
Interfax-Religiia, 29 May 2022
Patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus Kirill commented Sunday after the liturgy in the church of Christ the Savior for the first time on the results of the recent Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
"We view with complete understanding how the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is suffering today. We view with understanding how His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry and the episcopate must act today with maximum wisdom so as not to complicate the life of their believing people," the patriarch said on Sunday after the liturgy in the church of Christ the Savior.
Last Friday, the Bishops' Council of the UPTs expressed its disagreement with the position of Patriarch Kirill regarding the special military operation of the R.F. in Ukraine and adopted changes in its charter which, as was announced, make the UPTs independent. Subsequently it was learned that not all dioceses, in particular the Donetsk and Crimean dioceses, supported the amendments to the UPTs charter and, consequently, the independent status does not apply to the whole Ukrainian church. . . . (tr. by PDS, posted 29 May 2022)
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