Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church: “We live in a country where terrible things are now being said about faith and the Church”

Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhia and Melitopol, a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, commented on the provocative statements made by Ukrainian politicians against the UOC. The bishop believes that despite the harshness of the statements directed at the Church and faith in general, believers of the UOC must remain steadfast and not respond to evil with evil. He wrote about this on his Telegram channel.

«We live in a country where terrible things are now being said about faith and the Church. For example, one politician promised that sausage would become cheaper if the parishioners of the UOC disappeared from the face of the earth, others claim that “without the parishioners of the UOC, our world will be better and safer,” and still others are ready to proceed with the physical destruction of the faithful children of the UOC. After such public statements, in which, incidentally, representatives of religious structures favored by the authorities do not even notice the incitement of hatred, but on the contrary, call it a manifestation of love. What can be heard in these words? Hatred and contempt. This is no longer even a dispute about canons or patriotism—it is a desire, a call to simply destroy us. The terrible logic of hatred: “If it is better without you, then you should not exist,” which is always followed by violence,» — the metropolitan believes.

The bishop noted that even in such a case, true Christians should not give in to emotions and respond to provocations directed at the UOC. According to Metropolitan Luke, the trials that the Lord sends to the Church must be endured with humility and steadfastness.

«We are faced with a challenge: how should we respond? The first reaction of the human heart is offense, anger, and the desire to respond in kind. But the Apostle Paul teaches us otherwise: ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. If we responded in kind — with hatred, resentment, curses — we would already have drowned in evil along with those who are trying to kill us spiritually. In addition, the Apostle Paul reminds us that love is not weakness. Love is a shield, a weapon, a force that unites the Church into one body, that saves even those who cry out for our destruction. Let us remember those who now stand outside closed churches, praying under the open sky, our parishioners who have been directly affected by the war. Do they respond with hatred? No, they pray. Their prayer is a living sermon: “Everything will be fine with love.” We must not succumb to provocations; we will not drown in the turbulent waters of fear and hatred,» — he added.

Earlier, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich), administrator of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, drew historical parallels between what happened in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra during the years of godless communism and the current desecration of the relics of the Kiev-Pechersk saints. The bishop drew attention to the fact that the Ukrainian authorities, who declare their fight against the communist past, have in fact completely emulated the Bolsheviks in their actions against the Church.