Hierarch of UOC: Could St. Peter seize a temple of St. Paul’s community?

Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko) of Zaporizhzhya and Melitopol. Photo: hramzp.ua

The behavior of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and the "clergy" of the OCU does not fit into the Gospel framework, Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko) of Zaporizhzhya and Melitopol drew the attention of the public.

“Love has become the principle on which the relationship between the apostles was built. The only time, even during the earthly life of Christ, they tried to establish a hierarchy among themselves and find out which of them was the first. In response to this argument, Christ said that whoever wants to be the first should be the last,” Bishop Luke recalled on his Telegram channel. “Washing the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper, the Savior showed by his example how the First One should behave. After that, all debates about any primacy among the apostles ceased.”

The successors of the apostles should behave in the same way, and any other model of behavior is anti-church, the UOC hierarch explained.

“Only the hierarch who forgot what the Gospel is about can tell the whole world that only he is the main one and no one has the right to make decisions without him,” said Metropolitan Luke. “Can you imagine the Apostles Peter, Andrew, or John behaving this way?” Could Peter have come to the place where the other apostles were gathered and chastised them for having gathered without his permission? The way a person who calls himself the Patriarch of Constantinople behaves today does not fit into any gospel framework for a long time.”

Moreover, Phanar’s “adopted children” behave even worse, the Bishop of the canonical Church added.

“Imagine that a community founded by the apostle Peter breaks in at the door to the community, which, together with the apostle Paul, performs a service. They kick them out, beat them up, throw them out onto the street and grab their premises. Only persecutors of Christians can behave this way,” he noted.

His Eminence Luke drew the attention of his subscribers to the fact that the actions of the activists of the OCU are no different from the actions of organized criminal groups that keep robbing and looting. However, one should not fall into despair.

“The time will come, and God will put everything in its place. In the meantime, “it is their time and power of darkness”, but the Sun of Truth will certainly rise!” concluded the ruling bishop of Zaporizhzhya Diocese.

Earlier, Metropolitan Luke emphasized that even “inanimate” nature lives according to the law of Love.

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