OCU spokesman: Claims that UOC has more worshippers are “fake propaganda”
Zoria insists that Ukrainians are joining the OCU in large numbers, “voting with their feet.”
In an interview with former Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, OCU spokesman Yevstratiy Zoria claimed that any statements suggesting that UOC churches are more crowded than those of his own structure are false.
Responding to Klimkin’s remark that, despite sociological figures, more people still attend UOC churches, Zoria reacted emotionally and insisted this was not the case.
“No, they do not, they do not. This is once again fake propaganda used to push narratives for the outside world. In every sense – including even jurisdiction over formal religious communities – the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine is a minority,” Zoria said, stressing that no more than 4–5% of Ukrainians identify themselves with the UOC.
When Klimkin expressed doubt about the accuracy of that figure, the spokesman insisted that it was correct. “A great many of those who used to be under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate have, over these years – now already 12 years – been voting with their feet. They are leaving, they are becoming part of the new reality – the Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” Zoria said.
According to him, those who do not want to transfer voluntarily to the OCU are part of a totalitarian system, and the Ukrainian state should “liberate” UOC believers from those chains.
“To liberate them institutionally from the direct influence, brainwashing, and control coming from Moscow, and thereby simply give them the opportunity to recover – this is something we not only can do, but must do. We must do it consciously, consistently, constantly, all together – religious people and less religious people alike, supporters of different political views – because this is our societal need,” Zoria said.
He did not explain exactly how Moscow is currently “brainwashing” and “controlling” UOC faithful today.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Zoria, pro-Russian authorities are preventing UOC communities from joining the OCU.
