Archbishop Viktor told how the parishes of the UOC live abroad

Archbishop Victor of Baryshivka, head of the UOC Representation to European International Organizations, on the air of the YouTube channel «Pershiy kozats’kiy» told about how Orthodox Ukrainians live, who were forced to leave the country.

According to the archbishop, since the beginning of the war, millions of people left the territory of Ukraine and moved to Europe, and those who remained abroad were forced to organize their lives in a foreign land, which is psychologically very difficult.

“But when a person has a foundation on which to build everything else, and this foundation is faith in God, then all everyday trials are easier to endure,” — the UOC hierarch noted.

The archbishop emphasized that from the first days of the war, people who found themselves outside Ukraine began to turn to the Kyiv Metropolis, the Primate of the UOC, and all the dioceses with a request to help them organize their prayer life there.

“There were a lot of these requests.  Therefore, at the Council of the UOC on May 27, it was decided that one of the main missions of the Church is shepherding, the spiritual care of our people.  And we can’t leave them there to their fate.  From that moment, the organization of spiritual communities in Europe began,” — the archbishop added.

The archbishop Victor also said that dozens of parishes are currently open throughout Europe.  The Department for External Church Relations of the UOC controls and assists in the creation of new communities abroad.

“Life goes on, and it is extremely important that Ukrainians, who were forced to find themselves outside the country, unite in prayer, so that they feel each other’s support, so that each other’s eyes can see,” Archbishop of Baryshivka emphasized.