UPTsKP HARSHLY CRITICIZES REVOCATION OF UPTsMP BISHOPS' SIGNATURES FROM ROVNO MEMORANDUM OF UNITY
The press service of the Kiev patriarchate on 19 November published its official position relating to the statements of Metropolitan of Rovno and Ostrog Varfolomy of UPTsMP and Metropolitan of Sarny and Polesskoe Anatoly of UPTsMP regarding the revocation of their signatures under the "Memorandum about a united Ukraine and a united Ukrainian Local Orthodox Church."
The UPTsKP emphasizes, "the bishops of the UPTsMP lacked the spirit to condemn the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine and therefore they repudiated their signatures of the Rovno memorandum."
UPTsKP maintains that it learned from reliable sources that the primate of UPTsMP, Metropolitan Onufrey, forced the UPTsMP bishops to repudiate their signatures, "since they did not clear that document with the leadership in Moscow."
"Metropolitan of Rovno Varfolomy fulfilled Metropolitan Onufrey's order and found false pretexts in order to repudiate his signature. He accused believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev patriarchate of violating the memorandum. We categorically reject the claims of Metropolitan Varfolomy as false because the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev patriarchate do not act in violation of the law and do not engage in seizures of churches. Prior transfers of MP parishes into the Kiev patriarchate occurred within the framework of legislation, through the expressed will of respective parishes as is provided for in point 5 of the memorandum," the UPTsKP statement says.
The press center of the Kiev patriarchate maintains that it has reliable information that "all UPTsMP bishops of the so-called 'pro-Ukrainian wing' have been summoned to Moscow on 28 November, where Patriarch Kirill supposedly will initiate an ecclesiastical trial of the Rovno bishops for unsanctioned action."
In addition, the UPTsKP statement says the following: "A part of the bishops and clergy of UPTsMP are not satisfied with the actions of Metropolitan Onufrey, since they already have often appealed to him, requesting that he condemn the armed aggression of the Russian federation against Ukraine, which Metropolitan Onufrey does not do because of unwavering loyalty to Moscow. Such events demonstrate once again that UPTsMP really is not a self-administering church with rights of broad autonomy, but is completely ruled from Moscow and does not have its own opinion independent from Russia. Most unfortunately, the godly work of reconciliation and unity, presented with God's blessing thanks to the initiative of believers of Rovno region and expressed in the Rovno memorandum, was effectively scuttled by UPTsMP bishops on orders from Moscow."
The UPTsKP expressed confidence that among the bishops and clergy of UPTsMP "there are many who do not want to dissemble in favor of Moscow's lies and wish to be honest with themselves and the faithful whom they are leading to salvation . . . and bring about a cessation of hostility among Orthodox Ukrainians and will achieve peace and unity of our people and in the state as well as make real sincere steps for the creation in Ukraine of a united Ukrainian Local Orthodox Church"
UPTsKP calls believers and clergy of UPTsMP "to reject the fulfillment of Moscow's will that is harmful for Ukraine and to stop incitement of hostility in society and to unite in love and peace around the work of creating a united local Orthodox church."
As RISU reported, the Rovno memorandum of 13 November condemns the aggression of the Russian federation against Ukraine and the incitement of inter-religious hostility, and it expresses the intention of all signatory churches to pray for the integrity and unity of Ukraine and the creation of a united Ukrainian Local Orthodox Church. This document was signed by the head of the Rovno provincial state administration, Sergei Rybachok, the deputy head of the Rovno provincial state administration, Alexander Savchuk; the ruling bishop of the Rovno diocese of UPTs of Kiev patriarchate, Metropolitan of Rovno and Ostrog Ilarion; the ruling bishop of Rovno diocese of UPTs Metropolitan of Rovno and Ostrog Varfolomy; the ruling bishop of the Rovno-Volyn and Tavria dioceses of UAPTs, Metropolitan of Lvov Makary; the ruling bishop of Sarny diocese of UPTs of the Moscow patriarchate, Metropolitan of Sarny and Polesskoe Antony; and a representative of UGKTs who was delegated for signing by the ruling bishop of the Lutsk exarchate of UGKTs, Jehosaphat. (tr. by PDS, posted 20 November 2014)
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