The OCU is still waiting for a “movement from the grassroots” of the UOC to unite into one structure

The head of the Poltava Diocese of the OCU, Fedir Bubniuk, said that the organization expects a “movement from the grassroots” of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to unite into a single structure. Bubniuk added that the hierarchy of the UOC is biased and will not unite with the OCU, but among the ordinary clergy and believers there could well be those willing to join the organization led by Epiphany Dumenko. He said this in a commentary to the publication Religion in Ukraine.

“We said that our church is open, we are ready to accept those of our Ukrainians who today remain part of the Moscow Patriarchate. But, unfortunately, their leaders, in particular Metropolitan Onufriy, have not made any moves toward dialogue or unification. He was simply reminded that we are still open. Because if a church that declares that it has allegedly separated from Moscow does not take steps toward unification and understanding, then the question arises whether it has separated from Moscow or whether it is still under the influence of Moscow and part of the Moscow Patriarchate. Because we have our own country and we must unite within our country,” — Bubniuk said.

The OCU representative is convinced that there are priests and believers in the UOC who are “true Ukrainians,” so they will become part of the “Ukrainian Church.”

“I thought, why can’t we sit down at the negotiating table? We are Ukrainians, why can’t we sit down? And especially as Christians, any problems can be discussed. And if someone was wrong, they have to admit it, admit they were right, and so on. And I realized that they were biased by the Russian world. Because I believe, I believe that a significant part of the priests of the Moscow Patriarchate are really Ukrainians and they are just afraid of their hierarchy, they have also been following this Russian propaganda for many years, which was sent from Moscow, and it is difficult for them psychologically to take these steps, but this movement will come from the grassroots. Unless a miracle happens and something happens to the hierarchy of the Moscow Patriarchate. Everything is in God’s hands,” — added Bubniuk.

As reported, MP of Ukraine and chairman of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy Mykyta Poturaev explained the nine-month period that will be allocated to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church if Bill 8371 is passed. Poturaev said that it is best for the Church to decide on joining the OCU during this time, but if this does not happen, then the UOC must go through the procedure of “real severance” of ties with Moscow.