Fr Ioann (Shkabura), rector of the UOC church in Volyn village of Godomychi seized in 2019, gave his assessment of the activities of the Patriarch of Constantinople.

Patriarch Bartholomew must remember that at the Last Judgment it will be very difficult for him to answer for his actions, said Fr Ioann (Shkabura), rector of the persecuted Holy Protection community of the UOC in the village of Godomychi, Volyn region, a comment to the UOJ as part of the Congress “Faithful”, held at the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on February 22.

As reported, two years ago the UOC community in Godomychi lost access to its Holy Protection Church due to the raiding of the OCU, and since then the Orthodox believers have been performing their prayer feat in a small home church. As the clergyman noted, “we are making effort, little by little, to be saved, we hope for the mercy of God, for good people who will help to ensure that in the future a church will appear in the life of our community, where it will be possible to fully perform divine services and educate the younger generation”.

As for Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, whose interference in the church life of Ukraine led to such consequences, Father Ioann noted that “we all walk before God”.

“I am an ordinary priest. And no matter what the patriarch is, I am not worthy to condemn his actions, everyone will be responsible before God for their lives. But nevertheless, the patriarch, committing such acts, must remember that at the Last Judgment it will be very difficult to answer for them. We hope that the Lord will reason him,” said the rector of the persecuted UOC community.

On February 10, 2019, the territorial community of the village of Godomychi decided to move to the OCU, taking with it the church of the UOC community. The Orthodox decided to build a new church for themselves.