The world has witnessed over the last year a shocking military collision between Russia and Ukraine. Yet behind the military conflict is a spiritual conflict between the historic Orthodox Church, which has existed in Ukraine for over a thousand years, and a new nationalist sect created by the Patriarch of Istanbul in 2018.
The true shepherds of the Orthodox Church have always stood faithfully to defend the faithful, whether they were persecuted by pagan Rome, oppressed by the Ottoman Turks, or martyred by the totalitarian regimes of the Twentieth century.
Yet the same temptation – the temptation to silence because of fear, or a desire to maintain a position of prestige when faced with intimidation from enemies of Christ’s Church – remains the evil one’s greatest tool against the Church today as much as it was in centuries past.
Perhaps the last few years have softened up our will, making it harder for Orthodox Christians to stand during times of persecution. Perhaps one should not be surprised when state-sponsored soldiers in the Ukrainian capital seize churches and monasteries, assault priests and monks of the canonical Orthodox Church, and forcibly install the members of the new nationalist sect in the holy places. Perhaps nothing should surprise us in a time of war.
Yet for those Orthodox Christians blessed to live outside the war zone, who say they seek to preserve the communion of the Orthodox Church from the safety of their homelands, silence is uncharacteristic of a Christian.
A few years of forced silence under state-imposed restrictions on basic liberties has made too many Orthodox Christian laity and bishops willing to forget the lessons of totalitarianism. The temptation to popularity with our elites is too great for many in the Church, and it makes some do things they should not do.
Over the last three years, we have seen bishops who would stand with Marxists, in order to gain praise as leaders in racial reconciliation – knowing all the time these same activists are attacking our faith and its teachings, and burning our neighborhoods.
This is the price of popularity with the world, when we sacrifice our brethren in Christ.
We have seen bishops who have forbidden their priests from defending the jobs of their faithful – instead siding with state medical authorities, and costing thousands of Orthodox Christians their livelihoods.
This is the price of popularity with the world, when we sacrifice our brethren in Christ.
We have even seen an Orthodox bishop – may God spare him – publicly defend the right of a mother to kill her unborn child, putting to death his own conscience in the process, and leading to the abyss the consciences of those in his spiritual care.
This is the price of popularity with the world, when we sacrifice our brethren in Christ.
Now, should it surprise us, when confronted with the persecuted canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine, that such compromised consciences might be faced with a dilemma? It is at times such as these that Christ is calling us to shake off our silence, even in the light of past mistakes, and to raise our voices – in person or in writing – in defense of those in the Church in Ukraine, who are being oppressed by fraudsters disguised as clergy, by a fraudulent sect created by an ambitious patriarch with papal ambitions.
What can our bishops and priests do at a time like this?
Firstly, they can direct each parish to serve formal prayers at each Liturgy for the deliverance of the canonical Church – not merely euphemistic “prayers for peace”, which any stranger could utter, but the prayers of true Orthodox brethren, for the deliverance of the suffering flock of Christ in the canonical Church in Ukraine now being torn apart by wolves clothed as sheep.
Secondly, they can make pilgrimage – personally, and prepared to make their case – to the halls of political power, and lay the case for the religious freedom of the Orthodox Christians in Ukraine before those who now support the regime that is persecuting the Church, as well as those who have the power to call publicly to help them. This carries with it many risks – not unlike the risks faced by the saints of the early Church. Those who are real men will decide if they will stand, with God’s help, or run away.
Thirdly, they can cease commemoration and liturgical concelebration with those sectarians in the West who aid the wolves persecuting the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, who channel funds to them, or who commune with them at the Holy Table. Well must we remember the words of the Apostle Paul, who reminds us to be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)
The land war in Eastern Europe is the business of politicians and generals: it is a battle that is not the primary responsibility of the Church, for which we must minister to all involved. The spiritual war against the canonical Orthodox Church – the attacks on priests and faithful, the ransacking of holy monasteries, the introduction of laws banning our Orthodox Christian faith – these are the business of the Church and its shepherds. The shepherds must see to this business, and not be cowed into further silence.
Our bishops and priests can find their voices for all sorts of matters which appeal to the chattering classes. It is time for us to find our courage to be men, even when the chattering classes might be against us, just as they are against Our Lord.
It is the business of the bishops (and by extension, the priests) – indeed, the very calling of the clergy by God – to say to the wolves surrounding the Church as did the new bishop of the Diocese of Kirovograd did in recent days, Look at the icon of Christ, and tell Him that you are banning His Church.
The shepherd’s staff is carried by each bishop to defend the flock – the Church Fathers remind us that this is the symbol of the authority to fight off the wolves attacking the Church. Such responsibility also extends to each member of the priesthood, to be exercised against the falsehoods spoken by those who would draw the faithful out of the canonical Orthodox Church.
Saint Gregory Palamas reminds us, the silence of the clergy is atheism. The bishops and the priests in the rest of the world must now speak for the persecuted Orthodox Church in Ukraine, now suffering at the hands of the Ukrainian state at the behest of a schismatic sect.
It is a failure of our vocation in the priesthood to do any less.
– Archpriest Geoffrey Korz is a priest in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Please sign the petition against Christian persecution in Ukraine and make your voice heard. For more information, visit this post.
Dear Representatives of the International Community!
Please help our Ukrainian Orthodox Church!
The times of persecution of the first Christians who were under the Roman Emperor Nero (who now became President Zelensky with his environment) have returned to Ukraine.
Zelensky is a new Ukrainian “Emperor” – NEW CRUEL UKRAINIAN NERO!!!!
Please watch all these videos and read all these articles about the horrific persecution and abuse of the Orthodox UOC in Ukraine.
Please pay special attention to the horrific behavior of the Ukrainian police and the representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine (SS U)!!!!!!!!
The priest was again beaten by OCU -Raiders and his face was filled with blood!!!
The Raiders of the OCU capture the churches of the canonical UOC. They even use a bulldozer for it !!! And then these UOC churches stand empty !!! In these captured churches, people no longer pray to God at this difficult time for Ukraine !!!
Orthodox Christians of the UOC – cry and ask you for help !!
Please distribute these scary videos everywhere – so that all people in all countries of the world can see how the Orthodox Christians of the UOC in Ukraine are persecuted!
There is no freedom of religion in Ukraine!!!
But what exists in Ukraine now? The terrible bloody persecution of the Orthodox UOC !!!
Patriarch Bartholomew! What did your BLOODY TOMOS do in Ukraine ????!!!!
How much pain and suffering did your BLOODY CRUEL TOMOS bring to the Orthodox Christians of the UOC in Ukraine?!!!!!!
To watch these videos in English, please turn on English subtitles on YouTube.
Thank you for all you do to protect the UOC!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Best regards
Your sister in Christ
Tetyana Avramenko
________________________________________________________________________
Door of Kazan Church of UOC in Ladyzhyn broken by OCU raiders
The rector of the church and two men were beaten, their hands twisted, and they were driven out of the church without outerwear; women were pulled out through the altar.
(Двері Казанського храму УПЦ у Ладижині рейдери ПЦУ виламали бульдозером.
Настоятеля Ладижинського Казанського храму та двох парафіян-чоловіків побили, заламали їм руки та вивели на вулицю без верхнього одягу, жінок витягли з церкви через вівтар.)
https://spzh.news/en/news/77904-door-of-kazan-church-of-uoc-in-ladyzhyn-broken-by-ocu-raiders
https://spzh.news/en/news/77915-ocu-priests-unable-to-cross-correctly-disgraced-at-uoc-church-in-ladyzhyn
In Ladyzhyn, the rector brutally beaten, the temple seized
The Kazan church was raided with the help of a bulldozer.
https://spzh.news/en/news/77898-in-ladyzhyn-the-rector-brutally-beaten-the-temple-seized
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfXTQQNijCY
In Volyn village of Pishcha, OCU supporters raid Kazan Church of UOC
https://spzh.news/en/news/77932-in-volyn-village-of-pishcha-ocu-supporters-raid-kazan-church-of-uoc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Qi50J19YU&t=10s
Law enforcers intimidate Lavra monks with questions of converting to OCU
(Силовики в Лаврі кошмарять монахів запитаннями про перехід до ПЦУ, – ЗМІ)
https://spzh.news/en/news/77917-law-enforcers-intimidate-lavra-monks-with-questions-of-converting-to-ocu
Despite frosty weather, UOC believers come to Lavra for prayer standing
According to Archpriest Pavel Kyrylov, praying at the walls of the Lavra on such cold days is “a kind of exam, a test of our faith and love for God”.
(Незважаючи на мороз, віряни УПЦ прийшли до Лаври на молитовне стояння
За словами протоієрея Павла Кирилова, молитва біля стін Лаври в такі холодні дні – «це своєрідний іспит, випробування нашої віри і любові до Бога»)
https://spzh.news/en/news/77914-despite-frosty-weather-uoc-believers-come-to-lavra-for-prayer-standing
__________________________________________________________________________
Шановні Представники Міжнародної Спільноти!
Будь ласка, допоможіть нашій Українській Православній Церкві!
В Україну повернулися часи гоніння перших християн, які були при римському імператорі Нероні (яким зараз став Президент Зеленський з його оточенням).
Зеленский – це новий український “Імператор” – НОВИЙ УКРАЇНСЬКИЙ ЖОРСТОКИЙ НЕРОН!
Будь ласка, подивіться всі ці відео та прочитайте ці всі статті щодо ЖАХЛИВОГО ГОНІННЯ ТА ЗНУЩАННЯ НАД ПРАВОСЛАВНИМИ УПЦ В УКРАЇНІ.
Будь ласка, зверніть особливу увагу на жахливу поведінку української поліції та представників Служби Безпеки України (СБУ)!!!
СВЯЩЕННИКА УПЦ ЗНОВУ ПОБИЛИ ПЦУ-РЕЙДЕРИ!! У НЬОГО ЛИЦЕ ЗАЛИТЕ КРОВ’Ю!!!
РЕЙДЕРИ ПЦУ ЗАХОПЛЮЮТЬ ХРАМИ КАНОНІЧНОЇ УПЦ. ВОНИ НАВІТЬ ВИКОРИСТОВУЮТЬ БУЛЬДОЗЕР ДЛЯ ЦЬОГО!!! І ЦІ ХРАМИ ПОТІМ СТОЯТЬ ПУСТИМИ!!! В ЦИХ ЗАХОПЛЕНИХ ЦЕРКВАХ ЛЮДИ БІЛЬШЕ НЕ МОЛЯТЬСЯ БОГУ В ЦЕЙ ВАЖКИЙ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ ЧАС!!
ПРАВОСЛАВНІ УПЦ – ПЛАЧУТЬ І ПРОСЯТЬ ВАС ПРО ДОПОМОГУ!!!
БУДЬ ЛАСКА, РОЗПОВСЮДЬТЕ ЦІ СТРАШНІ ВІДЕО СКРІЗЬ – ЩОБ ВСІ ЛЮДИ У ВСІХ КРАЇНАХ СВІТУ ЗМОГЛИ ПОБАЧИТИ ЯК ГОНЯТЬ ПРАВОСЛАВНИХ ХРИСТИЯН УПЦ В УКРАЇНІ! В УКРАЇНІ НЕ ІСНУЄ СВОБОДИ ВІРОСПОВІДАННЯ!! АЛЕ ЩО ІСНУЄ ЗАРАЗ В УКРАЇНІ? ГОНІННЯ ПРАВОСЛАВНИХ УПЦ!!!
ПАТРІАРХ ВАРФОЛОМІЙ! ЩО НАРОБИВ ТВІЙ КРИВАВИЙ ТОМОС В УКРАЇНІ???? СКІЛЬКИ БОЛЮ І СТРАЖДАНЬ ТВІЙ КРИВАВИЙ ЖОРСТОКИЙ ТОМОС ПРИНІС ПРАВОСЛАВНИМ УПЦ В УКРАЇНІ????
Для перегляду цих відео англійською мовою, будь ласка, увімкніть англійські субтитри в ютуб.
Я дякую вам за все, що ви робите для захисту УПЦ!
З Різдвом Христовим та Новим Роком!
З повагою,
Ваша сестра у Христі
Тетяна Авраменко
____________________________________________________________________________
Дорогие Представители Международного Сообщества!
Пожалуйста, помогите нашей Украинской Православной Церкви!
Времена преследования первых христиан, которые были при римском императоре Нероне (в которого превратился Президент Зеленский со своим окружением), возвратились в Украину.
Зеленский это – новый украинский “Император” – Новый Украинский Жестокий Нерон!
Пожалуйста, посмотрите все эти видео и прочитайте все эти статьи об ужасных ГОНЕНИЯХ И ИЗДЕВАТЕЛЬСТВАХ над православными УПЦ в Украине.
Пожалуйста, обратите особое внимание на ужасное поведение украинской полиции и представителей Службы Безопасности Украины (СБУ)!!!
Священник УПЦ снова был избит рейдерами ПЦУ, его лицо – В КРОВИ!!.
Рейдеры ПЦУ захватывают храмы канонической УПЦ. Они даже используют бульдозер для этого !!! И эти храмы затем стоят пустыми !!! В этих захваченных церквях люди больше не молятся Богу в это трудное время для Украины !!!
Православные УПЦ – плачут и просят вас о помощи!!!
Пожалуйста, распространите эти страшные видео везде – чтобы все люди во всех странах мира могли видеть, как ГОНЯТ православных христиан УПЦ в Украине!
В Украине нет свободы вероисповедания!!!
А что сейчас существует в Украине? Преследование православных УПЦ !!!
Патриарх Варфоломей! Что натворил твой кровавый ТОМОС в Украине ???? Сколько боли и страданий твой кровавый жестокий ТОМОС принес православным УПЦ в Украине?
Чтобы просмотреть эти видео на английском языке, пожалуйста, включите английские субтитры в YouTube.
Я благодарю вас за все, что вы делаете, чтобы защитить УПЦ!
С Рождеством Христовым и Новым Годом!
С уважением,
Ваша сестра во Христе
Татьяна Авраменко
[…] Biserica persecutată din Ucraina: Ne-am pierdut curajul? https://orthodoxreflections.com/the-persecuted-church-in-ukraine-have-we-lost-our-courage/ […]
[…] The Persecuted Church in Ukraine: Have We Lost Our Courage? https://orthodoxreflections.com/the-persecuted-church-in-ukraine-have-we-lost-our-courage/ […]
Perhaps if so many bishops had not been silent when Russia illegally and immorally invaded Ukraine….
This redirect is tried repeatedly – but what about Russia? It does not work. Russia’s actions could never justify persecution of the UOC. These are Ukrainians being persecuted by their own government.
No one said “what about Russia.” I said, perhaps if the bishops had not been silent and relativized the brutal invasion, which is intimately linked to the increased animosity towards the erstwhile MP, there would be more sympathy for the plight of the Ukrainian Church. As it was, the bishops sat back, pretended it was some neutral conflict, threw their hands up and said the political situation was “complicated.” Now the chickens have come home to roost. All the recent internet activity pleading for the erstwhile MP is obviously connected to what Russia has done in that country. If your lot can blame the USA for the war, then perhaps you can draw the same connections and blame Russia/MP for what is happening to Metropolitan Onufriy and the UOC. In simpler words: you can’t support or ignore the invasion, even tacitly, and then complain about the tragic fallout.
1) The UOC denounced Russia and has supported the war effort.
https://orthodoxreflections.com/end-the-unjust-immoral-persecution-of-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church/
2) The UOC only got the “MP” label as a result of Poroshenko’s presidential campaign. That dates back to 2018. The first 6 months of the war, Zelenskyy’s govt actually backed off the persecution which had simmered at a low level since 2018. That made sense to unite the country. What is happening now is tearing the country apart. It is illogical for Zelenskyy, and only makes sense as a way to please his American masters.
3) Your point is simply a non-starter. Many synods and many bishops around the world (especially in the Global South) support Russia’s war efforts because they do see this conflict as having been started by the US. If you look at a map of the countries boycotting Russia, you will note that they are restricted to the Western nations and close allies such as Japan. We’ve covered this many times, and do not expect you to accept anything we say or quote. If you are still ignoring the coup in 2014, the 8 year war in the Donbas, the Ukrainian violations of Minsk I and II, and the mobilization in early 2022 by Ukraine to attack Donbas, then frankly there is no reaching you.
https://orthodoxreflections.com/12-reasons-for-christians-to-avoid-all-pro-war-demonstrations-concerning-ukraine/
4) Regardless of anyone’s failings, what is happening to the UOC is completely immoral and is an assault on the Body of Christ. Any attempt to make these innocent people somehow just “chickens coming home to roost” is a slap in the face of the Church.
So, wait, if Russia is not the aggressor, why did the UOC support the war effort and condemn Russian invasion? Why did they break from the MP? Are we really on Onufriy’s side?
Metropolitan Onuphry and the UOC condemned the invasion, broke with Moscow, and support the war effort. In their situation, any of us would have done the same. Yet, they are still being persecuted despite all their efforts.
As Americans and Canadians, we are not in their situation. Instead, we are watching our tax dollars fund the continuation of this war and the persecution of the UOC. Ukraine cannot win this war. It has already lost. All that we accomplish by forcing it to continue is more death and more destruction. The way to support Ukrainians is to end the war.
As for me and my house: we will support the position of the actual UOC. It is positions like yours that is making life so hard for them.
The real UOC headed by Met. Onuphry?
Yes… The Church that supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine, supports the war effort against Russian aggression, and politely asked Kiril (in vain) to act wisely both in 2014 and in 2022. The UOC, which is only harmed when its alleged “supporters” support the Russian invasion and Russian interests in the war.
We do not support the Russian invasion or Russian interests. We support peace, which never should have been violated. The unwise actions in 2014 were carried out by the US in its support of the Coup that led to Poroshenko, that led to this persecution. Being against the US funding this war is not the same as being pro-Russian.
Again, though, that’s not Onufriy’s stated position, is it? And how are you not supporting Russian interests, given that when I mention the public letters from Onufriy to Kiril in 2014 and 2022 you bring up the narrative about a US-sponsored coup? Spouting Russian narratives and talking points does not help the UOC.
The facts of the coup in 2014 are just that – facts. It is not a Russian narrative. The US sponsored the coup, and then proceeded to build up the Ukrainian military with a goal towards weakening Russia. This was about US unipolar policy, not what was good for the Ukrainians.
https://orthodoxreflections.com/an-eyewitness-to-the-us-coup-detat-in-ukraine-tells-the-truth/
Metropolitan Onuphry is doing what anyone should expect him to do. Regardless of how we got here, his nation is at war. We respect his choices. We do not have support the continuation of this war. We are Americans and Canadians, not Ukrainians. We have the freedom to oppose spending hundreds of billions of dollars to keep a war going that is already lost.
As long as we’re clear that you are not on the same page as the UOC.
We’d like to bring your attention, Jean, to these paragraphs Nicholas wrote in this last piece:
https://orthodoxreflections.com/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-suffers-with-christ/
‘How to awaken the slumbering giants?’…It would be interesting to see a link or reference provided for the source of the New Bishop of Kirovograd’s comments used in this article saying, “Look at the icon of Christ and tell Him that you are banning His Church.” (I’m not sure if I’ll be able to find the source on my own. Are the Bishop’s comments from a recent homily? And, would there be an English translation available with his comments?)
Posing such a declaration before Our Lord Jesus, in the form of a hypothetical confession sends a very clear and sobering message. One which may be very good to share and aide us in waking up those who need to be ‘shaken’ out their slumber and possible indifference to the wolf pack that has been visciously attacking Our Holy Orthodox Church or sheep fold.
Thank you in advance to anyone who can answer my questions & blessings to all in the New Year!!!
This quote was published on Orthochristian:
https://orthochristian.com/149864.html
Thank you very much!
Nothing new under the Sun:
“The time will come when your shepherds will betray you. They will watch the wild beasts tear you apart and they will NOT come to your aid. Know that these are apocalyptic times that will be hard for us!” + Blessed Elder Justin Parvu
“We are witnessing a classic case of prelest, brought about by vainglory and self-esteem. The end will be disastrous, but many will fall into the pit because they trusted this man more than God.…. There is a spiritual law: a feeling of heaviness and desperation should not come from leaders in the Church; that cannot be the effect of grace. If this feeling does come from them, they are in deep trouble—something is wrong with them. It is easier for those who have to suffer it, for it does refine them spiritually.
All this will pass, like some horrible nightmare. Just remember that that is not the reality. Try to avoid entirely any thought of “who is right, who is wrong.” Pray for Fr. Panteleimon, [Pat Bartholomew, Archbishop Elpidophoros-JD] who is in deep trouble spiritually, but cut yourself off entirely from him. There is sickness, petty politics, and demonic activity coming from that direction. Deep down we are peaceful about all this, for we know the Church is stronger than any of those who have been deceived into thinking they are the Church, and they always fall away, making those who remain in the Church more sober thereby.” +Blessed Fr. Seraphim Rose
–Letter to Alexey Young; Oct. 4/17,1975 St. Hierotheus of Athens; from the book Letters from Father Seraphim
“Wherever you are in your spiritual life,” Bl. Fr. Seraphim counseled, “you are to begin right there to take part in the life of the Church, to offer struggles to God, to love each other, to become aware of the people around you, to see that you are responsible for them, for being at least kind and cheerful, trying to do good deeds. You are to be aware of the unhappiness of others, to cheer them up and help them out. All of these things promote the life of grace in the Church.” Question-and-answer session following Fr. Seraphim’s talk, “Living the Orthodox Worldview,” St. Herman Summer Pilgrimage, 1982.