Clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese called on the President not to allow the deprivation of citizenship of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy

The clergy of the Storozhynets Deanery of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church issued an appeal to the President of Ukraine in connection with reports about possible actions aimed at depriving the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Onufriy, of Ukrainian citizenship. In their address, the clergy expressed concern over such intentions, emphasizing that this concerns a person who remained with his people in the most difficult times. The text of the appeal was published on the page of the faithful of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese of the UOC.

“We know His Beatitude Onufriy as a man of deep prayer, strong faith, true patriotism, and sacrificial love for Ukraine. From the first days of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he did not leave Ukraine, but stayed in Kyiv — alongside his people and his flock,” the appeal states.

The clergy recalled that the Primate of the UOC repeatedly personally helped the wounded, displaced persons, and hospitals:
“Not only morally, but also materially — from his own funds, he provided support and inspired the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church with his example, which united in helping the army, refugees, and those in need.”

According to the authors of the appeal, thanks to the example of Metropolitan Onufriy, dozens of dioceses and hundreds of parishes organized volunteer centers, shelters, and humanitarian aid.

“His Beatitude Onufriy is our reference point, our spiritual beacon, which shines above us and shows the way,” the clergy emphasized.

They stressed that depriving the spiritual leader of millions of Orthodox faithful of citizenship would be “a falsehood, an injustice, and a flagrant violation of the Constitution of Ukraine.”

“This is a blow to millions of believers who see in His Beatitude not only their spiritual father but also an example of a true Ukrainian who remained with his people in the hardest times,” the appeal states.

In conclusion, the clergy addressed the President of Ukraine “as the guarantor of the Constitution” with a request not to allow this mistake:
“We ask you to show state wisdom and restore justice.”

It was also recalled that the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church warns the faithful of Bukovyna that a provocateur-religious scholar operates in the region, deliberately inciting scandals in UOC churches. This refers to the local religious scholar and OCU lobbyist Oleksandr Brodetskyi, who conducts systematic propaganda against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the media while simultaneously staging fabricated “shows” with Russian literature that he allegedly finds in UOC churches.