Metropolitan of the UOC Varsonofiy denied rumors about pressure on the Council in Theophany

Metropolitan Varsonofiy, the administrator of the Vinnytsia diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, issued an official statement in which he denied the allegations that the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, held in Theophany on May 27, 2022, was held under the pressure or control of special services. As a direct participant of the events, he called such conversations untrue and without real grounds.

According to the Metropolitan, the sessions of the Council were held in a “calm, fraternal and prayerful atmosphere.” He emphasized that all participants – bishops, clergy, monastics and laity – had the opportunity to freely express their opinions, participate in discussions and make proposals. “Everyone had the opportunity to speak frankly, no one forced anyone to certain positions or votes,” the hierarch said.

Metropolitan Varsonofiy categorically denied any interference from state structures. “I have not heard any hints of pressure or interference from any state structures. Everything that happened was exclusively an internal affair of the Church,” he said in a statement. He added that all decisions were made in council, after joint discussion and prayer.

In his address, the hierarch also touched on the process of selecting the delegates, noting that they were elected by members of the diocesan council from candidates proposed by all willing clergy. He also assured that the delegates from his diocese confirmed the peaceful and responsible spirit of the Council. Concluding his statement, Metropolitan Barsonofiy called the Council in Theophany “a testimony to the living ecclesiastical unity, free, cathedral spirit and sincere desire of all of us to preserve faith, peace and love in Christ.”

Earlier Metropolitan of Cherkassy and Kanev Theodosius (Snigiryov) said that the Council in Theophany in 2022, was held under pressure from intelligence services. The bishop noted that the hierarchs of the UOC were threatened by people “in shoulder straps” before participating in the council, demanding that they make “necessary decisions”.