The Primate of the UOC urged clergy and believers not to bring church disputes to social networks

The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius of Kyiv and All Ukraine, made an important address to the clergy and flock. In his recent interview, he stressed the inadmissibility of public conflicts over church issues and warned against politicization of religious activity.

In the interview, published by the official press service of the UOC, His Beatitude expressed concern that internal issues of church life become the subject of disputes and scolding in social networks. According to the Primate, such polemics are inappropriate and act as a source of temptation for both believers and people who do not belong to the Church. Metropolitan Onuphrius noted that for constructive solution of discussion issues should be used only the institutions designed for this purpose: theological commissions and the cathedral mind of the Church.

In addition, the interview touched upon the problem of political context in spiritual enlightenment. Metropolitan Onuphrius pointed out the danger of bringing politics into sermons, emphasizing that political passions often lead to extremes. He reminded that the main task of every Christian remains the preservation of inner peace and avoiding everything that can lead to its destruction.

Recall, earlier we reported that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) is actively discussing its canonical status and vectors of further development. According to the UOC hierarch, rector of the Kyiv Theological Seminary and Academy, Archbishop Sylvester (Stoychev), these internal discussions do not indicate a split, but are a normal phenomenon for any local church and a sign of increased interest among believers and clergy.