Metropolitan Volodymyr-Volynskyi Volodymyr called the Council of 2022 a response to the challenges of the time and denied rumors of pressure

Metropolitan Volodymyr-Volynskyi and Kovel Volodymyr, a participant in the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of May 27, 2022, issued a statement in which he characterized the event as a historic step towards preserving the unity of the Church. According to him, the holding of the Council was dictated by the desire for peace and a response to the challenges of the time, and he categorically denied rumors of any pressure on its participants.

Metropolitan Vladimir said that the main goal of the historic gathering was «to preserve the unity and peace of the Church, to protect it from division and misunderstandings.» He noted that the Council was a testament to the unity of the clergy and their responsibility in a difficult time for the country. Holding this meeting, as the hierarch states, was «the demand of the time and the call of the hearts of the faithful,» which was heard by their Shepherd.

The Vladyka paid special attention to the rumors of alleged pressure on the participants during the Council. «There are no real grounds for such claims,» he said, adding that it is to someone’s advantage to «distort the facts and sow doubts in the hearts of people.» Metropolitan Volodymyr also characterized the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius, as a man of «deep faith, pure conscience, justice and uncompromisingness,» whose opinion cannot be influenced from the outside.

In his address, the hierarch also touched on the topic of freedom of conscience in wartime conditions. He recognized that war limits the rights and freedoms of citizens, but emphasized that «no external circumstance can limit the human right to freedom of conscience, to freedom of religion.» In his opinion, prayer for peace, for the state and for the defenders is the voice of the heart, which cannot be drowned out.

Concluding his remarks, Metropolitan Vladimir called the Council not only an ecclesiastical, but also a «spiritual and national step» toward peace and unity. He expressed the hope that «with prayer and truth the Church will overcome any trials».

Recall, 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».