Metropolitan of Vinnitsa and Barsky Simeon (Shostatsky)
Metropolitan. Simeon not signed the decision of the UOC Council, as it does not agree with some of his points. In particular, the necessity of repentance “those whom we call dissidents”.
Metropolitan of Vinnitsa and Barsky Simeon (Shostatsky) in an interview with reporters said that has not signed the decision of the hierarchical Council of the UOC, which took place on 13 November in Kiev-Pechersk Lavra because of the points about the need for repentance for the schismatics in Ukraine, as well as Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, reports Vinnitsky Press club.
Union of Churches in Ukraine may take place without repentance, which is now required for those “whom we call dissidents” – said Metropolitan.
“For 25 years we have been unable to heal this split, so today, through the state, the Church was called the Constantinople Mother-Church, having historical experience, to heal the schism, – said Bishop Simeon. We have examples even in the recent past, in 2007, when without any repentance the act of signing the reunification was combined two structures – the Russian Orthodox Church and ROCOR.”
He also believes that it is impossible to break the relations with the Constantinople Church.
“This is an extreme measure, – said Bishop Simeon – but only if we are facing any serious dogmatic and canonical differences and disorders. But today and dogmas, and canons remain the same, none of them were retreating – neither Constantinople nor we.”
According to him, the decision on the Eucharistic communion will be particularly evident outside Ukraine, when the clergy and the faithful of the UOC will go to Holy places and, primarily, on mount Athos, which is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
In his opinion, the bishops of the Church have lost much, not having come to the meeting with Petro Poroshenko, who waited from 14:00 to 20:00, where they could hear his opinion about the current situation around the Ukrainian Church and ask him how the head of state, all sharp questions.
“It’s no secret that the creation of UPPTS is one of the constituent elements, – said the Hierarch. – When he (Poroshenko – ed.) asked the question, does this mean that you want to create a state Church, he replied that in any case: nothing that concerns the life of the Church, its activities, rules, etc., we only want one thing – to contribute to the creation of Local Orthodox Church”.