Metropolitan Sergius of Ternopil: What was offered to the Church externally contradicted Her spirit

25 years ago, when Kharkov Council was convened, external events influenced the life of the Church: there were attempts by the powerful to impose reforms on the Church. This was said on May 26 by Metropolitan Sergius of Ternopil and Kremenets during the AiF online-conference "How Kharkov Cathedral Was Actually Held".

"What was offered to the Church externally did not correspond to Her spirit and purpose. There was a desire to disconnect from the Mother Church, the desire for isolation.

But the life of believing people, the clergy, and the episcopate said that such an opinion is not accepted. But attempts to weaken the Church were made. Councils were convened: the Episcopal – in Ukraine, the Council of the fullness of the Russian Church. There was an opinion, unfortunately, of the then leader of our Church in Ukraine – to completely isolate ourselves. Naturally, this caused resistance among the episcopate and believing people.

At the council of all the bishops of the Russian Church, Metropolitan Filaret was told that it was not appropriate to change the life of the Church. He promised to assemble the Council of Bishops and leave the post of Primate. However, further events were different from what he had said. On returning home, he could not resist the external pressure. Filaret refused to convene a council in Kiev, there were even threats.

Then the blessing was given by the oldest consecrated Metropolitan of Kharkov Nicodemus to assemble the Cathedral. “We gathered to decide how the Church should live on," Vladyka explained.