Kyiv theological schools continue series of videos refuting myths about UOC

Presenter of the project "Myths about the UOC", Archimandrite Mitrofan (Bozhko). Photo: a video screenshot of KDAIS.

The Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary (KDAiS) has released the 13th video, which continues the previously published series of videos refuting common myths about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

In the new video, the project's host, the scientific secretary of the Kyiv theological schools, Archimandrite Mitrofan (Bozhko), debunks the imposed stereotype that the clergy of the UOC supposedly "incite interfaith hatred".

Father Mitrofan noted, "These accusations are based on the fact that our clergy defend the rights of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, point out the illegal actions carried out by other religious communities; defending these rights is called ‘inciting interfaith hatred'."

"If we look at the content of their speeches or publications, we can see that there is no incitement to interfaith strife or calls for any unlawful actions against representatives of other religious communities, or even calls for restricting their rights and freedoms," said Archimandrite.

According to him, the UOC opponents consider analytical assessments of the religious sphere and opinions expressed in the course of polemics with opponents as "incitement of hostility".

"Theological disputes have arisen from the very beginning of the existence of the Orthodox Church. Evidence of this can be found in the Holy Scriptures. We see that even among the apostles, there were disputes and debates on certain issues. Throughout the history of the Orthodox Church, theological disputes aimed at formulating church doctrine more precisely were a response to the challenges of heresies and threats to the structure or heritage of the Church – the Holy Tradition," explains the KDAIS scientific secretary.

He emphasized that in secular life, "there are many issues around which discussions take place, and each side has its arguments for and against, defending its position".

"Just as in secular life, we do not consider people who disagree with one another and prove their point of view to be inciting hostility; similarly, in the church environment, we have the right to argue our point of view. Especially since many of our opponents are present in the media space, and the voice of the UOC is relatively quiet compared to them," said Father Mitrofan.

According to him, "our society has the right to free access to information and a wide range of opinions to see a more complete picture of the situation in Ukraine and make its own choice".

"We must speak clearly and openly about the problems that exist among us. By identifying problem areas, we can seek ways to solve these problems. Accordingly, if our hierarchs talk about what hurts, about what is really a problem in Ukrainian Orthodoxy, it is not inciting religious hatred but, on the contrary, an opportunity to understand what is wrong in our environment and what can be done to improve the situation," emphasized Archimandrite Mitrofan.

As reported, the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl, Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv, Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslav, Archpriest Dimitriy Sidor, rector of the Uzhhorod Cathedral, and some other representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are accused by law enforcement agencies of committing an offence under Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (Violation of citizens' equality based on their race, nationality or religious preferences, incitement of religious hostility and hatred, insulting citizens' feelings in respect to their religious convictions, etc.).

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