The Deputy head of the DECR of the UOC Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich
Time will tell whether the project of autocephaly in Ukraine is a matter of God, or of men, said Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich.
Today the Church defends its right to be called the Church, the right to be free from interference by outside secular forces. This was told by Deputy head of the DECR of the UOC Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich on 15 November, during the press conference Голос.UA “Tomos for Ukraine: whether to wait for Union of the churches after the meeting Poroshenko with representatives of the UOC-MP?”.
Father Nicholas reminded of the passage from the gospel of Acts where Gamaliel said, “refrain from these men and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought, but if of God, you cannot overthrow it” (Acts 5:38-39).
“So far, it seems that this thing (the process of creating autocephaly – note. ed) more from people than from God, said father Nicholas. – <…> We ourselves hate what is happening around the Church. Politics intervened, and all the information noise does not contribute to the Church, he’s hurting Her. But I would like to say that the Church is always human and divine at the same time, as in Christ. Christ as the man was thirsty, sad, but as God He healed people. So look for in the Church of God, because of God in the Church is much greater.”
The Deputy head of the DECR of the UOC concluded that time itself will show how this whole situation, which lasts from April until today, was started by the people.
Earlier, Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich said that the draft of Ukrainian autocephaly little Church and a lot of politics. In turn, the Primate of the UOC had earlier said that the Church today is the delay in the format of a political party.