Metropolitan Onufrij, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), met Russian prisoners of war in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, the headquarters of his church. This was reported by the “Orthochristian” information portal on Monday. The meeting therefore took place on August 18. The metropolitan called on the political and military leaders to exchange prisoners.
The war is a disgrace and a work of the devil, says Onufri. War is never sanctioned by God. “God blesses the peace,” Onufrij said verbatim, probably also in the direction of Moscow Patriarch Kirill, who assured the Russian attack on Ukraine of his blessing and the support of the Russian Orthodox Church.
According to Metropolitan Onufrij, he would like the prisoners to be able to return to their families in Russia. They should bring the message that the war in Ukraine must stop, rather than more people dying and more towns and villages being destroyed. The UOK did everything in their power to prevent the war. But it’s never too late to end it. War and violence can never create unity among families and peoples, says Onufri: “Only love can do that”.
The UOK is in a difficult position. In response to the Russian attack and its support from the Moscow Patriarchate, the church seceded from Moscow in May. However, the canonical status of the church is unclear. In those parts of Ukraine occupied by Russia, the Moscow Patriarchate has incorporated the UOC dioceses. However, there is a great deal of distrust towards the UOC in the Ukraine. In some regions the church was banned by the authorities. Meanwhile, the UOC repeatedly emphasizes that it supports the defense of Ukraine and is committed to the victims of the war.
