Metropolitan Anthony: The schism in the Church is a consequence of the weakening of faith in the Risen Christ

Metropolitan Antony, the Administrator of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, presented an in-depth analysis of the causes of church divisions, linking them to the weakening of living faith and loss of trust in God. The bishop emphasized that the true unity of the Church is not administrative, but ontological, stemming from the unity with Christ Himself. This is reported by the Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ).

In his reflection, Metropolitan Anthony noted that the Church is not an ordinary human community, but is the Body of Christ, living by the power of His Resurrection. Citing St. John Chrysostom, the hierarch pointed out that the source of the Church’s invincibility is the faith that unites its members to the Head, Christ. “The Church does not stand on an earthly stone, but on the living Stone – the Risen Christ,” the Metropolitan emphasized, drawing on the words of St. Nicholas of Serbia.

According to the bishop’s position, the main reason for schism is the fear of external pressure and the desire for security at the expense of the truth. When faith weakens, a person begins to be guided by the logic of the fallen world, trying to avoid suffering or loss of social status. Metropolitan Anthony reminded that it is fear that often lies at the heart of divisions, forcing people to seek compromise with political forces instead of trusting in God’s Providence.

Particular attention is paid to the phenomenon of accommodation under the guise of wanting to “save” the historic Church. The author warns that attempts to preserve external structures at the cost of distorting the truth lead to spiritual breakdown. The experience of St. Maximus the Confessor and St. Athanasius the Great, who remained faithful to the fullness of Church truth in spite of state pressure and majority opinion, is cited as an example of true standing in the faith.

In conclusion, the hierarch emphasized that the schism is not just a legal error, but a “spiritual disease” rooted in the desire to preserve earthly comfort and avoid sacrifice. In his opinion, only a living faith in the Risen Christ can make one free from fear and preserve the unity of the Church even in the midst of the most difficult trials.