Metropolitan Epifaniy: Russian state-church system will never be a neutral observer in Ukrainian affairs
This was stated by the Head of the OCU, Metropolitan Epifaniy, at the Conference of European Churches' consultation on a just peace on December 10 in Warsaw.
According to the Primate, from the time of the Moscow Kingdom to the present day, the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church have considered church control over Ukraine as one of the key elements of their influence on our people.
“The Russian church-state system is not and will not be a neutral observer. It is interfering in church affairs in Ukraine and will continue to do so in order to maintain and expand its destructive influence,” the hierarch said.
“In recent months, all of you have witnessed the public recognition of Russia's interference in the state affairs of Georgia, Moldova, and Romania, as well as its systematic tries to increase its direct political influence in these independent states. Is anyone naïve enough to believe that the Kremlin is merely a passive observer in matters of the current state of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and its future?
Perhaps someone sincerely does not understand this or pretends to. We, for our part, have no doubts regarding the Kremlin's hostile interest and aggressive intentions. That is why we are countering them and will continue to do so. And in this struggle, we call for constructive cooperation of all those who share an understanding of the danger that the “Russian world” ideology and its aggressive implementation pose to Europe and Christianity on our continent,” the head of the OCU emphasized.
