The governors and brethren of the three laurels of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church strongly oppose autocephaly. This was stated by the Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk in a sermon during the Liturgy in the assumption Cathedral Svyatogorsk Lavra 24 September 2018, the feast of the Synaxis of the saints of Svyatogorsk, according to the portal “Orthodox life” with reference to Svlavra.church.ua.
“The Primate of our Church, and Bishop Paul with the Kiev-Pechersk brethren, and Bishop Vladimir of Pochaev brotherhood, and we the brethren and the unanimous clergy – we are categorically against autocephaly”, – stated position that Metropolitan Arseny.
He noted, referring to the latest developments resulting from the President’s initiative to create a Single national Orthodox Church in Ukraine, “the only thing to change modern man, including politicians, is his sinful life to a righteous life.”
Statesmen Metropolitan Arseny wished to do their duties, leaving to decide the Affairs of the Church Metropolitan Onufry, the archpastors and clergy, delivered to shepherd the flock of Christ’s Church.
The faithful of the UOC Bishop wished courage in standing for the truth and the dispensation of the canonical Mother Church.
“Because our predecessors for it in prison went to prison, for shootings… Secretly prayed, secretly married, secretly served sometimes, when there was no temple, when they were destroyed and closed, but has preserved Holy Orthodoxy. And we, God forbid, brothers and sisters, keep it by their example, in purity,” – said Metropolitan Arseny.