On December 21, 2020, during the annual diocesan meeting of the Diocese of Kyiv of the UOC, Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and all Ukraine called on the priesthood to be prepared, first of all spiritually, for the negative consequences of the visit of the Patriarch of Constantinople to Ukraine, if such a visit takes place.
This is reported by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC-MP.
In his report, he noted that the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew "will lead to subsequent aggravation in the situation with Ukrainian schismatics."
"If this happens, we should expect an aggravation of the already difficult situation with Ukrainian schismatics. A new wave of provocations, seizure of churches, information pressure and further attempts to discredit the Ukrainian Orthodox Church may happen," the Primate of the UOC-MP stressed.
He explained the situation as follows: “This is because Patriarch Bartholomew will come not to give something to Ukraine, but to take away something from Ukraine.”
Onufriy called on the faithful of the UOC-MP to be prepared for such a development of events.
“Having armed yourselves with prayer, patience and love, defend the purity of the Orthodox faith, defend our Christian principles, which, unfortunately, Patriarch Bartholomew and his followers neglect, and stand up for your shrines. I wish all of us courage and firmness in our faith, remembering that God is not in power, but in truth,” Metropolitan Onufriy said.