A desperate step: the Metropolitan of Kiev refused to stand in front of Poroshenko
Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, defiantly refused to stand up during the reading at a special meeting of the Verkhovna Rada on May 8 in the parliament hall of the names of the so-called ATO participants who died in Donbass, whom Petro Poroshenko presented as heroes.
Bishop Onuphry, as well as the hierarchs of the UOC-MP who accompanied him, were the only ones in the hall who decided to make such a gesture. Representatives of other faiths, schismatics from the “Kyiv Patriarchate,” as well as deputies and officials rose from their seats during Poroshenko’s speech.
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" By doing so, the Primate wanted to emphasize that he is categorically opposed to war. He has repeatedly emphasized his special respect for heroes, but he is also against any military action. Because innocent people are dying on both sides of the front line. And he has repeatedly called for an immediate end to the war," Bishop Clement, the official spokesman of the UOC-MP, said in an interview with the Religious Information Service of Ukraine.
Let us note that Poroshenko previously positioned himself as a parishioner of the Moscow Patriarchate, but after being elected president he began attending services of the UOC-KP, which is prohibited by the canons of the Orthodox Church.
A desperate move: The Metropolitan of Kyiv refused to stand before Poroshenko.