Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich): Church life must be built in accordance with the Gospel, not the will of the authorities

Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) issued a statement on the current situation surrounding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, emphasizing that interference by secular authorities in the canonical life of religious organizations is unacceptable. The hierarch drew particular attention to the issue of the mobilization of the clergy, noting that forcing priests to participate in military operations constitutes a gross violation of both Divine and canonical principles. The bishop’s remarks were published on the website Pravlife.info.

In his publication, Bishop Anthony points out that the priesthood is a special calling, incompatible with violence and the shedding of blood. According to church rules, specifically the 83rd Apostolic Canon and the 7th Canon of the Council of Chalcedon, clergy are strictly forbidden from performing military service. Violation of these norms results in defrocking, since a clergyman must remain a messenger of peace and a conduit of divine grace, not a participant in conflicts.

The Metropolitan emphasized that attempts by secular authorities to impose their own rules on the Church demonstrate a misunderstanding of the nature of spiritual authority. Despite historical and political upheavals, the Church is called to be guided exclusively by Holy Scripture and the canons. The author reminds us that the state has a limited sphere of influence and has no right to supplant the Church, whose primary goal remains unchanged throughout the ages—to lead people to salvation and spiritual union with God.

As a reminder, on August 16, 2026, in Kyiv, Metropolitan Sergiy (Anitsoi) of Tulchyn and Bratslav, a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, was detained by employees of the territorial recruitment center . The bishop, along with the priest accompanying him, was taken to the military registration and enlistment office to undergo a military medical examination. Later, the metropolitan was released, but his Ukrainian passport was confiscated.