Vicar of the Odessa diocese of the UOC denied rumors about external pressure on the Council in Theophany
Archbishop Viktor of Artsyzsk, vicar of the Odessa diocese, issued a statement refuting rumors about external pressure on the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held on May 27, 2022 in Theophany. As a direct participant of the events, he emphasized that the initiative to convene the Council came from within the Church, and its decisions were made in an atmosphere of freedom and sobornost, without any interference from state structures.
Recently, the circumstances of the Council of the UOC have been actively discussed in the information space, with some claiming that it was held “under pressure or under the influence of state structures”. In response to these statements, Archbishop Viktor considered it his direct duty to “testify to the truthful information”.
The hierarch of the UOC emphasized that the initiative to convene the Assembly of bishops, clergy, monastics and believers, and then the Council of Bishops and Local Councils of the UOC, was not born under the influence of external forces, but actually from the laity, clergy and bishops of almost all dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. “As vicar bishop of the Odessa diocese of our southern region, I am well aware of the deep and meaningful appeal of the clergy from different dioceses to convene a Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. These letters were supported and signed by their bishops and sent for consideration to the Primate and the Holy Synod of the UOC”, – stated Archbishop Victor. Thus, he called “absolutely groundless” the allegations of “illegitimacy” of the Council or its organization “under pressure”.
Delegates for participation in the UOC Council were elected at diocesan meetings attended by representatives of clergy and laity. The process was open: all those who wished to participate had the opportunity to submit candidates, and the discussion was held “openly and in council”.
Describing the atmosphere of the Council, Archbishop Victor emphasized that it was held “in a calm, fraternal and prayerful atmosphere.” According to him, bishops, clergy, monastics and laity, at the initiative of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius, freely expressed their opinions, debated, proposed amendments and decisions. “No one forced anyone to a certain position or vote. Personally, I did not hear any hints of pressure or interference from any state bodies,” he noted.
In the work of the Council, as the archbishop said, there was a “spirit of responsibility, peace and a sincere desire to preserve the unity of the Church of Christ.” He called it “a truly cathedral process and a joint search for the Will of God in a difficult time for our Ukrainian people and the Church.”
The Archbishop also recalled that the Council of Bishops has legislative and executive power within the Church, so its decisions are binding and do not require additional approval by subsequent Councils. He added that the bishops who participated in the voting and signed the Council’s resolutions have not yet withdrawn their votes and signatures, which actually confirms their recognition of the legitimacy of the Council and their involvement in its decisions.
Concluding his statement, Archbishop Viktor of Artsyzsk responsibly stated, “All talk about external pressure or control over the decisions of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Theophany is untrue and groundless!” He claims that the Council of May 27, 2022 was and remains “the voice of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a testimony of the living ecclesial unity, cathedral spirit and sincere desire to preserve faith, peace and love in Christ Jesus.”
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”.