And what for us? The Metropolitan of the UOC-MP, who was flirting with Bandera’s followers, suddenly “saw the light”
On the occasion of the first state celebration of Catholic and Protestant Christmas in the history of Ukraine, the head of the Synodal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) for the pastoral care of the Cossacks and the spiritual and physical education of youth, Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol, addressed the flock.
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“This is a pure anti-people, anti-Orthodox political project,” the Metropolitan said. He recalled that for the UOC (MP) and some local Orthodox Churches, “the indisputable authority is the opinion of the monastic republic, the unbreakable fortress of Orthodox traditions - Holy Mount Athos, where the Nativity of Christ is celebrated on January 7.”
According to the Zaporozhye ruler, “the legislators who voted for this date” justify their actions by “European integration, with which they associate a perversion of morals and an unnatural worldview, alien to the God-established view of human existence.” And he is sure that the deputies “were not motivated by the protection of human rights.”
“This project is aimed at separating our citizens from the Orthodox faith, destroying the centuries-old Orthodox traditions of the Ukrainian people,” the bishop believes and points to European countries where “they have already forgotten what the holiday of the Nativity of Christ is associated with, calling it simply “X- mas" or "bright day".
The archpastor also notes about parliamentarians that “if these politicians thought about human rights, then, for example, they would not forget about Muslim holidays, since there are more Muslims, citizens of Ukraine, than Catholics and Protestants combined.”
“With such decisions, politicians who act on our behalf... are trying to marginalize us, they want to drive us into “Orthodox ghettos,” concludes Metropolitan. Luke asks “not to betray the feat” of the Zaporozhye Cossacks, who “fought to the last drop of blood for our Orthodox faith, defended the calendar tradition, which, as now, they wanted to change to the Gregorian way.”
"By preserving the traditions of our people, let us preserve our homeland – Ukraine!" urges the bishop of the UOC-MP, who, as is well known, in the name of preserving Ukraine, blesses prayers for "defenders of Ukraine's borders from enemies," presents church awards to "ANTI-TO" volunteers, and suspends priests from ministry for "actions that could be considered separatism." Specifically , for wearing the ribbon of the great Orthodox saint, St. George the Victorious, outside of church on May 9 .
But the Metropolitan of Zaporizhzhia's address appears contradictory, largely because it was he who, four years ago, advocated for European integration, which, it turns out, current MPs "misunderstand." Judging by the understanding of the most reverend Euro-agitator himself, he believed that Ukraine would only take from Europe the "human rights" mentioned in his address today, while all other perks would be impossible to shove down our throats through any European channels.
But then the question arises: is this a misunderstanding of the essence of things or hypocrisy? Which, incidentally, is equally detrimental to the flock of such a pastor. For isn't Metropolitan Luka, with his manic Ukrainianism, further separating his spiritual children from the Orthodox faith? He seems incapable of understanding that "this project (of Catholicization) is aimed" not at "destroying the traditions of the Ukrainian people," but at enhancing them. For the "Ukraine" project is precisely the destruction of the centuries-old traditions of the original Orthodox Little Russian people, to which the Zaporozhian Cossacks considered themselves, never even suspecting that they would one day be called "Ukrainians."
English version :: Read in English : What about us? The Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, who flirted with Banderites, suddenly "saw the light."