Metropolitan Volodymyr Refutes Claims of His Incapability by Celebrating Liturgy

The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), Metropolitan Volodymyr, celebrated a liturgy in the hospital where he undergoes rehabilitation, by which he refuted the claims that he is incapable.

The service was celebrated in concelebration with Archbishop Oleksandr (Drabynko) of Pereislav-Khmelnytskyi and Vyshneve, reported the website of UOC-MP.

The service was attended by the primate’s Press Secretary, Protopriest Heorhii Kovalenko, clergymen and the hospital personnel.

Let us remind the readers that on February 1, 2012, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in his address on the occasion of the third anniversary of his enthronement stated that in view of the “temporary incapability” of Metropolitan Volodymyr, the responsibilities of the head of the Synod of the UOC-MP are now fulfilled by Metropolitan Ahafangel (Savin) of Odesa and Izmail. In his address the head of the Russian Church also approved all the decisions of the Synod of the UOC-MP of January regarding the internal life of the Ukrainian Church.

Therefore, Patriarch Kirill openly confirmed the opinion of the members of the Synod of UOC-MP that Metropolitan Volodymyr is incapable. According to Religion in Ukraine, persons related to the Kyivan Metropolitanate stated that on January 26, Metropolitan Volodymyr was conscious. He was even ready to participate in the Synod session which might be held in the hospital, which scenario was considered. However, the session was held without his participation.