UOC Chancellor criticizes "church revolutionaries"
Metropolitan Antony believes that such “progressive enlighteners” are driven not by genuine concern for the Church and the people but by worldly ideology and political expediency.
The Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Antony (Pakanich), commented on the attacks on the episcopate and believers of the UOC. According to him, the persistent hostility towards the higher clergy, presented under the guise of "democratization" of the Church, is one of the vivid features of renovationism.
Metropolitan Antony noted that attacks on the higher clergy are often framed as criticism, behind which it is not difficult to notice the rejection of the very institution of the episcopate. "In the same way, the renovationists acted in their time," he noted.
In his view, the goal of this process can be reduced to the well-known biblical phrase: "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered."
However, the archbishop emphasized, today not only the episcopate but also the church people are subjected to attacks. "Some critics of the Church speak with undisguised contempt about ordinary believers, especially when these people selflessly defend their shrines," said the bishop.
The UOC Chancellor also criticized those who consider only themselves "enlightened and progressive". "If the people do not accept their opinions, then the people themselves are dark and uneducated. Unfortunately, history teaches nothing, and today, as a hundred years ago, church revolutionaries are blinded by pride and vanity," his commentary states.
The archbishop believes that these "progressive enlighteners" are not driven by genuine concern for the Church and people. "If you read their arguments, there is nothing from Christ, only worldly ideology and political expediency," he concluded, adding that the Church will continue to fulfill its main mission: to lead people to Christ, not guided by momentary political agendas.
Earlier, Metropolitan Antony (Pakanich) condemned the false "peacemaking" of those who remain silent about the seizures of churches and the beatings of clergy.
