The head of SSEPFC commented on the statement of the UOC bishops

Head of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience of Ukraine Viktor Yelensky commented on the “Statement of the Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on the actions of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in the direction of the dioceses of the UOC.” Yelenskyy is convinced that declarative attacks by the UOC bishops against the Russian Church are not enough, as “Ukrainian society” expects the Church to completely break ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. He said this in a commentary to Ukrinform.

“The statement was signed by 30 bishops, which is not a small number, but it is not a large part of the UOC (MP) episcopate. We cannot say with certainty what the statement of these bishops is – whether it is the last straw that overflowed their cup, or whether it is a corporate conflict where some members of the corporation defended one of their representatives. But some of the things mentioned in the statement – in particular, the violation of the autonomy of the UOC (MP) within the Russian Church – will make an encouraging impression on many priests and laity of this church who have long wanted to break with Moscow,” Yelenskyy said.

The official emphasized that despite the fact that the UOC bishops expressed dissatisfaction with the removal of Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol, this is still not enough. The UOC is expected to completely sever ties with the Russian Church.

“The society expects not a discussion between the synods of the UOC (MP) and the Russian Church, but an unconditional withdrawal of the UOC (MP) from the ROC. There are many canonical and purely evangelical reasons for this. But if theologians still need some justification, it is obvious to ordinary people that they cannot be part of a church whose primate explicitly declares the destruction of Ukrainian culture, the identity of Ukraine and Ukrainians. And there is no way to justify being in this structure,” he added.

As reported, on October 31, 2024, a statement of the bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was published online, in which the hierarchs express their disagreement with the decisions of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in connection with the dismissal of Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol from the post of head of the Donetsk Diocese. The text of the statement was signed by more than 30 hierarchs of the UOC. In it, the hierarchs call on the Russian Church to respect the canonical territory of the UOC and to stop dismissing UOC hierarchs in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.