UOC Chancellor: The bill to ban the Church is a struggle against God

Politicians who initiated and support the bill aimed at banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are trying to fight against God, passing judgment on themselves, which they will face at the Last Judgment, said the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, in a video message.

"Bill No. 8371, which has been passed in the first reading by the Verkhovna Rada and which the media refer to as the 'bill to ban the UOC,' is not a political matter, as it may seem at first glance," the hierarch noted. "In reality, it is a deliberate struggle against the true Church of Christ, and, in general, a struggle against God."

The bishop expressed gratitude to the deputies "who understood this, overcame their fear of harassment, online publications, threats from radical forces, and did not vote for this bill".

"Low bow to you for your courage. History will, as always, provide its objective assessment to each one," the Metropolitan said.

He urged not to become embittered, neither against those who accept anti-Church and anti-Christian laws nor against those who, formally belonging to our Church, exult in madness, observing such 'lawmaking.'

"The Lord calls us to pray for persecutors because these unfortunate individuals cannot even realize that with their actions they are passing judgment on themselves at the future Last Judgment of God. They can only be pitied, horrified by their fate if they do not repent," the Metropolitan said.

He noted that "this bill is just one of the stages of systematic pressure on the Church, which our believers have been experiencing for a long time."

"We know from church history that no persecutions last forever. They end suddenly, unexpectedly for both believers and the persecutors themselves. Persecutors usually disappear from the historical map, and the Church always becomes stronger than it was before the persecutions. This needs to be remembered and fully rely on God's mercy. Only He decides when it will stop, not those who believe they can control the fate of the world," the Metropolitan said.

According to him, "The historical experience of the existence of the Church of Christ teaches us to perceive what is happening as God's will, a test of our faith, the strength of prayer, and the ability to live according to God's commandments in any circumstances."

The hierarch emphasized that "the UOC is an integral part of the Ukrainian people, will always remain so, and no force in the world can change that."

"We bear witness to the truth of God, we defend the Church of Christ, which lives by the grace of the Holy Spirit, stands on the rock of apostolic faith, and builds its historical path in accordance with the patristic teaching... Despite everything, the UOC will continue to bear witness to the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ and perform worship and the Holy Sacraments of Christ. Even if they take away our churches, we will pray in apartments, homes, garages and dugouts, and through this, we will unite our much-suffering Ukrainian people in their pursuit of God's truth for a peaceful life on their native land," Metropolitan Anthony emphasized.

As reported, the head of the UOC Information and Education Department, Metropolitan Clement, said that the anti-church bill No 8371 is part of the process of de-Christianisation of Ukrainian society.