An anti-Orthodox position was discovered in the Vinnitsa diocese of the UOC
In the Vinnytsia diocese of the UOC, they disowned Metropolitan Simeon’s plans to head the “unified Ukrainian local church” being created by the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
They also criticized the reports about this that appeared the day before in a number of Ukrainian media outlets, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
A statement from the diocese's press service states that there is no basis for commenting on Simeon's possible candidacy, and they saw nothing wrong with his alleged collaboration with the authorities.
“Metropolitan Simeon is reproached for his good relations with the authorities. But is this really a drawback? Is bad relations with secular authorities really a necessary indicator of spirituality? Thank God, thanks to Bishop Simeon, the Vinnitsa diocese has absolutely normal relations with the authorities, with society, and with representatives of other faiths. And it was precisely the position, as well as the active actions of Metropolitan Simeon in the last four years that made it possible to avoid many conflict situations that could turn into hotbeds of confessional or church-social confrontation, as we see in individual dioceses,” the statement says.
At the same time, it is argued that Bishop Simeon consistently defends the interests of the Church.
“In our opinion, since Metropolitan Simeon acts, others should also act. It’s one thing to point out the authorities’ mistakes, but quite another to open a “second front” during a war against leaders elected by the people, openly express contempt for them and disdain for the country in which you live, which, unfortunately, can be observed not only from individual politicians, but also among our Orthodox brethren,” the diocese said in a statement.
The head of the Association of Orthodox Experts, journalist Kirill Frolov, in his blog, called the response of the Vinnitsa diocese an anti-Orthodox position aimed at schism.
“Such a declaration is tantamount to joining a new schism, since its creation is the policy of the local authorities. But a direct declaration of departure to a new schism and participation in the so-called. The “unification council” of those who rebelled against the Church was not there. As well as declarations of obedience to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. In a word, they are “weighed” there. Anti-Orthodox position,” says Frolov.
As a reminder, the well-known Ukrainian political scientist Vadim Karasev previously reported that Metropolitan Simeon of Vinnytsia, who is loyal to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, would be "chosen" to head the church being created by Constantinople.
English version :: Read in English: The Vinnytsia Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been found to have an anti-Orthodox position.