UOC priest: We do not escalate conflict despite being oppressed by OCU

Dialogue between UOC and OCU representatives on Rivne 1 TV. Photo: Screenshot from the New Rules program

When temples are seized, UOC believers go to pray at homes and on the street, but do not go into conflict with supporters of the OCU, said Archpriest Oleksandr Maksymyuk on the air of the Rivne 1 TV channel.

"Now the main thing is not to harm our country during the war, and I tell people that. When we lose a temple, people stay, and we do not conflict. I tell them – these are Ukrainians just like us, they decided so, we respect their choice. And our people, who remain citizens of Ukraine and faithful to our Church, do not show aggression. They stay at homes, in adapted premises," said Fr. Oleksandr. 

As the UOJ previously reported, the former head of the Rivne Regional Council in his fight against the UOC is guided by the either-we-or-they principle.

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