“he declared his organization's right to judge the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Similar quotes
“He argued that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine had chosen dialogue and reconciliation rather than stricter canonical measures.
“They accuse us, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, of not being from them and not having received recognition according to the rules invented by them
““The fact that, instead of imposing strict demands upon the followers of Russian Pharisaism in Ukraine, we demonstrate humility and call them to fraternal dialogue, mutual understanding and unity—rather than judging them according to the canons, as the Patriarchate of Alexandria has done with similar Russian ecclesiastical usurpers in Africa—does not mean that we lack the right to act in this way,” he said. “Our conciliatory approach must not be interpreted by anyone as supposed evidence that we do not possess this right or that we ourselves harbour doubts about it.
““Even if, somewhere far away, some do not regard us as a Local Church—just as some did not regard Paul as an apostle—for Ukraine we are the Local Church,” he said. “We recognise the unique and particular responsibility for Ukraine that follows from this. Therefore, like the Apostle Paul, we shall strive to do what is most beneficial for the Orthodox community of Ukraine. We shall continue firmly to expose the false teaching of the ‘Russian World,’ and we believe that, through our common efforts and with God’s help, we shall succeed.”
“state-forming role of the UGCC
“The Metropolitan insisted that Moscow’s approval was not required for the establishment or recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
“the Kyiv authorities are persecuting the UOC even though the Church openly opposed the military invasion and declared its independence from Moscow
