UOC-Moscow Patriarchate Consciously Reluctant to Comment on Language Law

According to representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), the language issue in Ukraine is being considered out of political and election campaign motives. Therefore, the church is consciously reluctant to comment on Kivalov-Kolesnichenko's bill and calls “all the sides to a constructive dialogue and to make weighed decisions for the good of the people of Ukraine,” said the Head of the Synod’s Information and Educational Department of UOC-MP, Protopriest Heorhii Kovalenko, reported pravmir.ru.

“Unfortunately, the language issue in Ukraine is considered not per se but out of political and election campaign motives,” stated the minister.

According to him, there is no language confrontation in the UOC-MP and therefore, the clergy can share with politicians its experience in settling this issue.

“We choose the language of our preaching according to Apostle Paul’s principle that it is better to say a few words in an understandable language than a thousand words in a non-understandable one. That is to say that not the form (language) but the essence of a sermon is important for us. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the flock’s language preferences and the ability of the preacher to express his ideas,” he said.  

“Also, it seems to me that the church should raise its voice to support or criticize any law only if it has a direct relation to religion or morality of the society. Ministers should simply observe all the other laws and express their political views only in the voting booth,” stressed Fr. Heorhii Kovalenko.