Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich: the UOC – Ukrainian nation’s own flesh and blood

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is flesh and blood of its nation. If it is eradicated, pulled out of the people, it means deadly uprooting. It was reported by Deputy Chair of the Department of External Relations of the UOC archpriest Nikolai Danilevich in the on-air UOJ Telethon on All-Ukrainian Cross Procession-2016.

“The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is its nation’s own flesh and blood. If it is eradicated, pulled out of the people, it means deadly uprooting. It will be painful for everybody. One has to listen carefully to the Church voice, or at least not to something that could damage the society, nation and Church,” emphasized the Deputy Chair.   

“We, being priests and pastors, are guided not only by what we see on television – we are guided by actual socializing with people of all walks of life. We deal with humans physically – and see real moods and attitudes of real citizens rather than the “picture” imposed by television,” he underscored.

“The Ukrainian Orthodox Church operates in the territories where the state doesn’t. I believe the state should appreciate this fact and not to stigmatize the UOC,” he said. 

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