His Beatitude: The emigration of Ukrainians poses new challenges for Church

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. Photo: news.church.ua

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Onuphry said that in conditions of mass emigration decisions which will create new opportunities for more effective ministry of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church were made. He said this in an address to the Western European clergy, as reported by the press service of the UOC.

"Numerous appeals of our believers to establish parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church abroad testify to the acute need for our presence outside our Homeland. Our Church is called to be with our faithful wherever they are," the Primate said.

His Beatitude noted that the rapid development of the UOC communities abroad urged the clergy to create a family and friendly atmosphere in them.

Metropolitan Onuphry also thanked the clergy of the Local Orthodox Churches and all Christians for the help provided for the parishes of the UOC abroad.

"A parish abroad is also a space for communication, where people find a piece of Homeland and thus feel comfort and consolation of nostalgia for home, which is experienced by every migrant,” said the Primate. “<...> Today, our people are wounded by war and its consequences and, therefore, need God even more, they need spiritual comfort, a good pastoral word, zealous prayer, and they just need a man of faith, who would be by their side in their trials," he said.

As reported, a meeting of the Western European clergy of the UOC was held in Milan.

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