"It is vital": Epifaniy compares ban on UOC-MP to abolition of slavery

Bill No. 8371, the so-called "law banning the UOC-MP," is needed in Ukraine as the world once needed laws banning slavery. The parishioners of the UOC-MP are affected by Stockholm syndrome, and they need to be treated in the only way possible in such a situation – when the victim is unable to free himself from the perpetrator, he must be released.

This is the opinion of the Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine. He argues that only a ban on the UOC-MP can protect freedom of religion in the country.

"The law, the need for which has been discussed for several years, is vital. It is like a law prohibiting slavery. It is like a law prohibiting domestic violence. This law is the only way to protect freedom of religion for those who cannot and do not want to protect it by voluntarily serving Moscow," said the head of the OCU.

According to him, not only the leaders but also supporters of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine, due to the Stockholm syndrome and as victims of domestic violence, "continue to believe that Moscow really loves them so much and thus cares for their welfare."

"Both phenomena tell us what to do in such a situation. When the victim is unable to free himself from the perpetrator, he should be freed, even if he is powerless or even resists. When the structure of the so-called UOC proved incapable of its own actions, as all other religious organizations in Ukraine have proved capable, the state and society are obliged to help and protect themselves on the spiritual front from the aggression of the "Russian world," Epifaniy emphasized.

And the point here is not in the personalities of Russian dictator Putin and the head of the MP Gundyaev. The UOC and the OCU are "institutionally different" and, having a common faith, "very well embody Christian teaching in practical everyday life."

"Even the brightest figures in Russian church history, such as Patriarch Tikhon, were affected by the imperial idea. Therefore, despite everything, even he could not recognize and accept the reality of the independent existence of the Churches of Georgia and Ukraine, once conquered by the empire. What can we say about others," Epifaniy recalls.

He emphasizes that the Moscow model of Orthodoxy "is deeply affected by the cult of empire, servility (servitude to the throne), Caesaropapism."

"Just as the Russian people have never actually known a democratic way of existence and governance, so the Moscow church has never actually had freedom and did not know what it is like to serve God and people, not the 'king and the state. Instead, the Church in Ukraine, having lived for centuries under foreign and non-Orthodox domination, has gained real experience of the 'people's church', which it still lives by today," said the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

In his opinion, the issue of banning the UOC "is not only ripe but also long overdue." That is why the OCU appeals to Ukrainian lawmakers with a request not to delay the adoption of this law.

"We ask you to do everything possible so that the gap in the defense, through which the 'Russian world' pours poison into the souls of Ukrainians, is finally closed. This, by the way, is expected, strange as it may sound, among the MPs in Ukraine. Because the clergy and faithful see that they cannot convince Metropolitan Onufriy and other leaders and cannot influence them in any way. Therefore, they hope that at least the state law will free them from the slavery of Moscow," the Metropolitan added.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy supported the aforementioned draft law No. 8371 in the spring. MPs were recommended to support the law in the second reading and in general.

It is unclear why the "servants" hesitate. It is known that 66% of Ukrainians support a complete ban on the activities of the UOC-MP in Ukraine. Another 19% support an approach that does not imply a complete ban, but even they support the idea of establishing state control over this denomination.

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