UOC cleric: Those who joined OCU abandoned the cross, afraid to follow Christ
Archpriest Vasyl Balan called for prayers that God would give the strength and faith to carry one’s cross to the end.
Speaking about the transitions from the UOC to the OCU, the rector of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Murovani Kurylivtsi in Vinnytsia region, Archpriest Vasyl Balan, noted that "it is impossible to follow Christ without the Cross. Whoever does not abandon their cross until the end will be saved." He said this in his sermon to the parishioners.
According to Father Vasyl, if a person leaves their Church, it means they have not taken up the cross but rather cast it down, afraid to follow Christ. He explained that this happens in part because such transitions are influenced by human disputes, the labeling of false accusations, slander, and lies. "Some 'fell' under these false labels, while others rose. And they say, 'Lord, I take up this cross and continue to follow You!'" said the UOC cleric.
"And we, brothers and sisters, must remember that it is impossible to follow Christ without the cross. Only those who endure and carry their cross to the end will be saved.
We should not ask, 'God, why have You given me this cross?!' but rather pray, 'Give me fortitude, give me faith, so that I may carry my cross to the end,'" Father Vasyl concluded.
As previously reported by the UOJ, Archpriest Vasyl Balan had earlier spoken about the methods used to force people into the OCU, comparing them to the methods of the Bolsheviks, who drove people into collective farms.
