PATRIARCH LAMENTS THAT "SCHISMATICS" ARE SEIZING UPTSMP CHURCHES
RISU, 3 February 2015
At a bishops' conference in Moscow, Patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus Kirill accused "Ukrainian schismatics" of illegal seizure of more than 18 church buildings, which to a great extent are located in western Ukraine. This news was conveyed by Pressa Ukrainy.
Patriarch Kirill said that all these illegal seizures happened in 2014, whereas in the majority of instances the defenders of the buildings managed to prevent seizures.
"In just the past year, schismatics seized by force illegally no fewer than 18 church buildings in Rovno, Vinnytsia, Ternopol, Lvov, and other provinces. It should be noted that there were many more unsuccessful attempts at seizure of churches, which attests not only the persistence of the schismatics but also the courage and steadfastness in faith of Orthodox believers of Ukraine," the patriarch declared.
Patriarch Kirill did not forget to praise Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine Onufrey for preserving the canonical unity of the church in Ukraine, although a difficult political situation is evident and schismatics have become more active and are putting external pressure on Onufrey (perhaps even directly from the White House—Pressa Ukrainy).
"The church's duty at the present time is not to give a political assessment of any of the sides in the armed confrontation, but to point to the necessity of continuing the negotiation process and to call the opposing parties to peace, calling attention to the catastrophic condition of the civilian population in the zone of conflict," the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church added.
We remind you that UPTsMP church buildings have been used by separatists for delivery and storage of weapons, and it is in Crimea that on the grounds of UPTsMP churches bases were created for "cossacks" and "guests from Russia," who facilitated the occupation of the peninsula. (tr. by PDS, posted 3 February 2015)
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