"RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IS PUTIN'S HOPE FOR SUPPORT"—METROPOLITAN EPIFANY
The Moscow patriarchate in Ukraine is a canonical anomaly. During the relentless fight, the state should aid a united Orthodox Church of Ukraine (PTsU) to protect the Orthodox faithful from the influence of the Russian Federation through the Moscow patriarchate. This was stressed by the metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine, the primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, His Beatitude Epifany, in a broadcast on the TV channel Priamii. He added that as of the present time, the RPTs [Russian Orthodox Church] is the only organization in Ukraine that is immediately connected with the R.F. This is reported by Velikii Kyiv.
"The Ukrainian state is now fighting to defend its territorial integrity. It is defending its informational space and has even banned the parties in the Verkhovna Rada that had definite ties with Moscow. Therefore we should also speak about the protection of the Orthodox faithful in Ukraine from the Russian influence. The state must devote attention so that at this time of the relentless fight, we can together achieve victory. Because as long as there is in Ukraine the large structure of the Moscow patriarchate, that will give Putin hope that he has support here," Metropolitan Epifany explained.
The metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine noted that now all ministers of the RPTs can join the united UPTs without penance, although after the victory it will then be necessary to repent for supporting the brutal crimes of the troops of the R.F. and to atone for the guilt of one of the creators of the "Russian World," Patriarch Kirill.
The primate of the PTsU also emphasized that all lavras will certainly belong to the united Orthodox Church of Ukraine, because they are the property of the Ukrainian people.
"Therefore we urge the monks of the lavras and monasteries and the clergy of the RPTs to join without any preconditions. We do not demand any kind of punishment. Our doors and our hearts are open with love for everybody. Because when the war is over, then it will be necessary to repent before the Ukrainian people for the fact that they supported the aggressor. Now there is the possibility of being united," Metropolitan Epifany emphasized. (tr. by PDS, posted 26 April 2022)
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