Ukrainian Bishop Thanked Me for Defending the UOC
Aug 26, 2023 12:25:51 GMT
tisbearself and davebj like this
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2023 12:25:51 GMT
A Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - I shall not name who, because he is in a difficult predicament and is under sanctions imposed by decree of the President of Ukraine - sent me a personal message of thanks for standing up for the rights of believers in Ukraine.
This Metropolitan is quite a prominent figure, and was at one point a member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. He is a very devout, holy, ascetic man, who certainly does not deserve the pressure he is under. He could quite easily leave Ukraine and go to Russia if he wanted, where things would be easier for him, but he does not, because he is not a traitor to Ukraine, but on the contrary, is a patriot of his Ukrainian motherland. From the beginning of the war, he supported the Ukrainian Army, and continues to do so, though it seemed at the time that his entire diocese might fall under Russian occupation.
His message reminded me to pray even more for the suffering believers of Ukraine - not only for an end to the war, but for an end to the moral tragedy of the persecution of Christians in that long-suffering nation.
This Metropolitan is quite a prominent figure, and was at one point a member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. He is a very devout, holy, ascetic man, who certainly does not deserve the pressure he is under. He could quite easily leave Ukraine and go to Russia if he wanted, where things would be easier for him, but he does not, because he is not a traitor to Ukraine, but on the contrary, is a patriot of his Ukrainian motherland. From the beginning of the war, he supported the Ukrainian Army, and continues to do so, though it seemed at the time that his entire diocese might fall under Russian occupation.
His message reminded me to pray even more for the suffering believers of Ukraine - not only for an end to the war, but for an end to the moral tragedy of the persecution of Christians in that long-suffering nation.
