Archbishop of UOC-MP Refuses to Run in Local Elections After Two Years of Being Deputy of Kyiv City Council

The superior of the Kyiv Cave Monastery, Archbishop Pavlo (Lebid) believes that a priest should not participate in politics but should be busy with the work the Lord has called him to do. During this year’s election campaign the archbishop has been engaged in social ministries: gathering of cereals for veterans and visiting the sick. He reported this to our RISU correspondent Oksana Tupalska on October 16.

“A priest should not be engaged in politics. He should be busy with the work the Lord has called him to do; that is to preach the Divine and True Word, administer Christ’s sacraments, and lead the people to the Kingdom of Heaven. But in our difficult time a priest also has to be engaged in politics…For instance, the deputies will allocate 10 cubic meters of gas. Can a church building be heated with that? This is so absurd, so stupid. Today politicians are absolutely incompetent in these things,” said Archbishop Pavlo.

According to the hierarch, priests who are deputies do reap fruit of their labor. This concerns allocation of land plots, elaboration of certain documents, even with regard to court decisions.  

Archbishop Pavlo, who is one of the founders of the Party of Regions, states that he was and continues to be a member of that party but, at the same time, notes that he has a mind of his own: “I was a member of the Party of Regions and continue to be. I founded it: Mykola Yanovych Azarov, Mykola Vasyliovych Rybak, and I.  I have a mind of my own. I do not agree with the authorities on many issues even today. I am saying and will say that. I cannot be 'fifty-fifty.' I am first of all a priest.”

According to the archbishop, it would be very good if there was a priest adviser in any ministry: “There should be a priest in the Ministry of Industrial Policy who would deal with industry, and in agriculture, and in the ministry of culture and education. In order for them not to make the bad mistakes which are being made today. I respect the people, many of whom are ministers today and ex-ministers, people whose consciences could not be destroyed by any authority.”

Archbishop Pavlo believes that the main policy is to do good regardless of whether a person is in the authority or ministry.