Metropolitan Antony urged the UOC faithful to fast and pray ahead of the trial on the liquidation of the Kiev Metropolitan Church

Metropolitan Antony (Pakanich), the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s administrator of affairs, has appealed to the faithful with a call for increased prayer and strict fasting on October 29 and 30. This spiritual mobilization is connected with the upcoming court hearing, the ultimate goal of which is to stop the activity of the Kyiv Metropolitan Church of the UOC.

In his address, the hierarch emphasized that in the current circumstances the Church has no one to expect human help from, and the faithful should put their full trust in God. According to him, the current trials should not be perceived as a reason for fear, but as an impetus to spiritual purification and strengthening in faith.

“What we are experiencing today is not a defeat, but a purification. The Lord is letting the storm pass in order to remove the dust of indifference from our souls, to make us alive, deep, real. For faith that has not passed through the fire will never become gold,” Metropolitan Anthony emphasized.

The UOC Administration also drew attention to the symbolic date of the meeting, which coincides with the day of honoring the Icon of the Mother of God “Deliverer”. Vladyka expressed confidence that the Most Holy Mother of God will hear the prayers of the faithful and protect them.

“Even if human judgments are unjust, the Lord is a righteous judge. And we know that no prayer, no tear shed and no heartache will go to waste,” the hierarch concluded, asking all those not indifferent to the fate of the Church to spend the coming days in strict fasting and prayer.

Earlier, the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra also urged believers to fast for three days and pray hard in the run-up to the court hearing, which may lead to a ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The hearing, scheduled for October 30, will consider a lawsuit to stop the activity of the Kiev Metropolitanate of the UOC, which could deprive the church of its central administrative administration.