The Head of the UGCC about the church scandal in Zaporizhzhia: "We not only should but also must pray for members of other Churches"

Saturday, 06 January 2018, 14:40

We mustn't justify disrespect for a human being by any rules or confessional limitations. We must respect another person's pain because both human and Christian love urges us to do so.

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This was said by the Father and Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav on Friday December 5 on Channel "Espresso", commenting on the church scandal in Zaporizhzhia, where a priest of Moscow Patriarchate refused to hold a memorial service for a boy who tragically had perished.

According to the Primate, he is shocked by such a behavior on the part of the priest. Furthermore, he is unpleasantly surprised by such a disrespectful attitude towards the family who is grieving now over the loss of their child.

"I absolutely do not understand those arguments which try to use some theological principles in order to justify such a behavior. We believe that we not only should but also must pray for the members of other Churches in Ukraine. We must look for everything that would help a person get closer to God, especially in the society which requires spiritual guidance and which experiences so much pain. The role of a priest — is to alleviate those sufferings. A good shepherd does not condemn a person but looks for "a lost sheep..." observed the Head of the Church.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav does not understand such a behavior because we mustn't justify disrespect for a human being by any rules or confessional limitations. "I am so sorry that such a thing has happened. I think it will be a good lesson for everyone especially for priests, how one must not act," emphasized the Primate.

We would like to remind you that according to mass media, in Zaporizhzhia, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) refused to hold service for a two year old child who tragically had perished as a result of a suicide falling on him.

The UGCC Department for Information