"A missile you blessed hit the altar": Vicar of Odesa Diocese writes to Russia's Patriarch Kirill
Archbishop Viktor of Artsyz, Vicar of the Diocese of Odesa, has sent a letter to Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) and all members of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in connection with the Russian attack on Odesa on Saturday night.
Source: a letter posted on Telegram by St. Elijah's Monastery
Quote: "Today, when I arrived at the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa at the end of the curfew, and I saw that a Russian missile ‘blessed’ by you had directly struck the altar of the church in the holy of holies, I realised that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has long had nothing in common with your understanding.
Because of your personal ambitions, you have lost the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and other churches in the countries of ‘Holy Rus’!
We do not dare to call you ‘Great Lord and Father’, because you are a father who has sacrificed his children to destruction and murder!"
Details: The Archbishop asked Kirill to note that at the Council of the UOC [Ukrainian Orthodox Church] held on 27 May 2022, it was decided that the church headed by the Primate of the UOC would withdraw from its subordination to him.
"We demand that you leave our church, our bishops and our primate alone! We have our own path, which the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has chosen. Please, I beg you: stop. Every missile that strikes the territory of Ukraine today is perceived by its residents as your ‘blessing’ to your children," the letter says.
Background:
- The Air Force of Ukraine reported that the Russians fired 19 missiles of various types, including five Oniks missiles, on Odesa Oblast overnight. Air defence forces shot down nine missiles.
- The Transfiguration Cathedral was devastated in the latest Russian attack on Odesa.
- 25 buildings of architectural significance were damaged overnight in Odesa's centre, which is under UNESCO protection.
- One person was killed and 20 were injured, including four children. The building of the Greek consulate was damaged.
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