Romanian Church will recognize the OCU when the withdrawal of communities from the UOC-MP becomes large-scale again
Archbishop Nestor gave details of the conversation in an interview with ТеNews. org.ua.
"Yes, we managed to talk after the service and then, during the festive meal. The main topic was really the issue of recognition of our Church. There was no aggression or resistance on the part of Metropolitan Nyfont – a normal conversation," the OCU hierarch said.
According to Archbishop Nestor, the Metropolitan of the Romanian Church explained why his Church is in no hurry to recognize the OCU.
"The hierarch of the Romanian Church asked about our affairs, told how they get information about the OCU, how Russia represents the situation. He noted that until mass transitions of parishes to the local church begin, it will look like half of the population of Ukraine is pro-Russian," Bishop Nestor said.
"It was not directly said, but it is clear that because of Ukraine, they do not want to quarrel with Russia until they see real steps towards the unification of Churches in our country. That is until our Church in Ukraine becomes many times larger than the Russian one," he added.
The Archbishop of the OCU noted that the transition of communities has now stopped and we should not expect that it will soon revive.
"Given the indifference of a large part of people, it won't happen soon. After all, most of those who are still parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church are well aware that this is the Russian Church. Even dozens of crossings in individual dioceses are a drop on the scale of Ukraine," the OCU hierarch stressed.
