Metropolitan Victor comments on ROC's actions regarding UOC dioceses
UOC hierarch spoke about whether the statement by 33 UOC bishops could influence the ROC Synod’s decision on the leadership of the Donetsk Eparchy.
During the “Unified News” telethon, Metropolitan Victor (Kotsaba) of Khmelnytskyi and Starokostiantyniv commented on the statement by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church bishops regarding the decisions of the Russian Orthodox Church Synod about UOC dioceses located in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
He emphasized that Ukraine’s territory, including temporarily occupied regions, is internationally recognized as part of the country. UOC dioceses are located in these regions, including the Donetsk Diocese, where Metropolitan Ilarion was replaced on October 24. Metropolitan Victor explained, “This decision of the Russian Orthodox Church is contrary to the one made by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1990.”
When asked if such statements could influence the ROC leadership, Metropolitan Victor noted that the Donetsk Eparchy had not made any decision to join the ROC and therefore remains part of the UOC. However, he could not say if the decision would be reconsidered: “The UOC statement is a public declaration of our position for our believers, for the clergy, for everyone who wants to hear it. But, of course, influencing the Russian Orthodox Church Synod’s decision is not as simple as it may seem.”
As previously reported by the UOJ, Metropolitan Victor underscored that the Donetsk Eparchy remains part of the Ukrainian Church.
