Met. Alexander (Drabinko): If everything is canonical, I will join the SLC

Metropolitan Alexander (Drabinko) of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky and Vishnevoye

Met. Alexander (Drabinko) of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky and Vishnevoye will join the future Local Church in Ukraine if everything is canonical. The hierarch said this on October 23 in an interview with the "Radio Liberty".

“I am inclined to think that if everything goes the canonical way, as it is going now, I don’t see any obstacles and barriers to becoming a member of this undivided Single Local Ukrainian Church,” said Met. Alexander.

The hierarch also noted that the Ukrainian Church has repeatedly fought for its full independence after it was annexed in 1686 by the Moscow Kingdom.

“The fact that the UOC wants its independence is something we have been talking about for a hundred years,” said the hierarch. “This is not the first attempt to realize this, so to speak, dream: self-identification, self-identity of the Ukrainian people.”

At the same time, Met.  Alexander emphasizes that he himself is going to act according to the Gospel on the issue of transition to the SLC, discussing it with his flock.

Earlier, Met. Alexander (Drabinko) said that he was not sure whether to go to the SLC since he felt responsible for the fate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which "is in crisis".  On May 25, 2018, the Holy Synod of the UOC called upon Metropolitan Alexander (Drabinko) to refrain from making statements that bring temptation into the hearts of believers.

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