Metropolitan Theodosius: “We will make every effort to ensure that no other Primate is imposed on us here”

Metropolitan Feodosy of Cherkasy and Kaniv, a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, recorded a video message in support of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The bishop noted that he, like other bishops of the Church, cannot support the recently published Appeal of the bishops of the UOC to Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a request to restore the Ukrainian citizenship of the Primate of the UOC due to disagreement with the form and certain points of the text. However, Metropolitan Theodosius expressed his personal support for His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry and assured that in the event of the deportation of the Primate of the UOC, he and his like-minded colleagues would do everything possible to ensure that no one in Ukraine could impose the election of a new head on the Church. The appeal was published on the Telegram channel of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC.

«Throughout yesterday, there was a discussion among the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church about whether our bishops should sign a letter of appeal to Zelensky, which is circulating on the Internet, with a request to review the decision and restore Ukrainian citizenship to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry. We consulted with many bishops on this topic yesterday. What can I say? Is it obvious to the faithful of our Church, and indeed to any impartial person, that the deprivation of His Beatitude’s citizenship is petty revenge, lawlessness, and an open struggle against the Church? Of course, it is obvious. Should the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its episcopate in particular declare this publicly in order to show their position and unanimously support His Beatitude? Probably, yes. Moreover, such collective support is needed not only for the Primate, but also for the imprisoned Metropolitan Arseny, other imprisoned clergy of our Church, the maimed believers of the Chernivtsi Cathedral, and our priests and monks who were stolen and thrown to the front,» — said the bishop.

Metropolitan Theodosius noted that he and many other bishops of the UOC do not support the aforementioned appeal of the episcopate of the UOC because of its content and form, which many find repulsive. The bishop noted that the appeal was originally drafted in such a way as to cause discord, not unity.

«So why has the question arisen among the majority of bishops — to sign this appeal or not to sign it? Because for many, the text itself is categorically unacceptable. Neither in style nor in the content of some of the theses. What seemed to be a good cause was initially formulated in such a way as to lead to internal disagreements within the episcopate, rather than to unanimous support for the primate. I will not speculate on whether this was done deliberately or out of simplicity and inexperience; life will tell. But the initiators of such appeals should remember that documents of this level, if the intention is to have them signed by the entire episcopate, should be prepared professionally, taking into account all of the above. Well, if there was no intention of unanimous support for the primate, then that is another question. I will only say that those bishops who, for objective reasons, will not sign this text, including myself, express their unconditional prayerful support for His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry in his current trials,» — added the metropolitan.

In conclusion, the head of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC addressed His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, assuring him of his support. Metropolitan Theodosius noted that if the authorities decide to deport Metropolitan Onufry, he will still remain the Primate of the UOC for the majority of the Church’s members.

«Your Beatitude, regardless of whether they restore your citizenship or not, whether they allow you to remain in the country or whether the authorities have the audacity to deport you in order to then try to divide our Church within the country on this basis, such plans have already been announced, despite all this, Your Beatitude, you will remain for us the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and a connecting link, even abroad, which mystically keeps our Church from being torn apart. As long as you, Your Beatitude, are alive and well, no matter where in the world you are, despite our internal contradictions and different views on a number of fundamental issues, we, the episcopate, clergy, monks, and laity within the country, will make every effort to ensure that no other Primate is imposed on us here and that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is not torn apart,» — he concluded.

We will remind you that on the eve of the bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church addressed an open letter to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky with a request to review the decision to terminate the citizenship of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine. The reason for the appeal was the announcement of the corresponding decree of the head of state, which caused a wide resonance among believers.