Epifaniy about the Moscow Patriarchate/Radio Liberty
Priests of the Moscow Patriarchate are trying to pretend to be independent. However, their head is still praying for the Russian Cyril.
This was told by the rector of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius. According to him, the rejection of the Moscow Patriarchate has begun.
“The Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine de facto believes that they are independent, but de jure it is clear that they are an integral part of the Russian Orthodox Church, an integral part, since the Metropolitan Onufry in Kyiv, and Metropolitan Anthony, manager of affairs, members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church,” Epiphanius said.
Ready for negotiations
The Metropolitan noted that the Russians are trying to save their church and are just hoping to wait out the war. They think that issues with the Moscow Patriarchate will be resolved later. However, Epiphanius assured that no one would return to this.
We, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, call for unity not just in words. We are ready to sit down at the negotiating table, start a dialogue on uniting everyone into a single, already recognized, autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine. – said Epiphanius.
He added that there are parishes ready for unity. They are accepted in the OCU
