The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) has repeatedly spoken critically of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, but he does not say anything offensive about Metropolitan Volodymyr (Slobodan), Primate of the UOC-MP.
“A long time ago I removed from my heart the grudges I had against His Beatitude Volodymyr. When we meet, we feel fine. I do at least. We haven’t had a chance to sit together for tea because he is forbidden from meeting with me. But I would like to,” Patriarch Filaret said in an interview to RISU.
“At other times, of course, it was different. Once upon a time it was difficult to forgive. Now it is easier. With age, it is always easier to do. One understands that unless one forgives, one will not enter the kingdom of heaven. As Christ said, if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins,” notes the UOC-KP hierarch.
Please note that the UOC-MP recently celebrated the 21st anniversary of the Kharkiv Council, which was Metropolitan Filaret (Denysenko) was removed from the position of the Primate, and Metropolitan Volodymyr (Slobodan) was elected in his place.