Засідання та Звернення Ради Митрополії УПЦ США
Our Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Council of the Metropolia met on 24-25 February, 2022 at Metropolitan John (Theodorovych) Memorial Library for its annual budgetary sessions. The library is in the Consistory Administrative building located at our Metropolia Center in Somerset, NJ. This was the first “in-person” meeting of the Council since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, which should have been a joyful experience. Unfortunately, however, the invasion of Ukraine by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation began the day before the meeting opened. In spite of the turbulent news and the great sadness for the Council members, the meeting proceeded as planned opening with a Moleben to the Birth-Giver of God for her protection of the people – the nation – of Ukraine.
Before the Council moved into the scheduled topics of the day, a lengthy discussion ensued with the members asking Metropolitan Antony and Archbishop Daniel to share with them every bit of information they had about the conditions in Ukraine, especially regarding if and how the Ukrainian government and the population can face the overwhelming threat confronting them in a Russian army that so greatly exceeds their own and whose weapons seem so much more powerful, as well. Our hierarchs encouraged the Council members to remain positive in their outlook about the invasion. The people of Ukraine have powerful motivation because of their profound unity in opposition to the Russian Federation’s delusions about a “Russian World” or a recreated Soviet Union.
The Council of the Metropolia devoted a great deal of time to discussion about the ways it could support their brothers and sisters in Ukraine. The members were as surprised as most of the world about the level of the Ukrainian army’s defense during the first days of the invasion. They vowed to return to their home parishes, cities and towns to participate in any events that bring the truth to those communities about Ukraine, her people and the historical lies expounded by Vladimir Putin.
The Council did, after long discussions about Ukraine, effectively complete its planned agenda. Reports of all Consistory Officers, Offices of Ministry, Financial Officers, Audit Commission, St. Sophia Seminary, All Saints Camp, the Ukrainian Orthodox League, St. Andrew Society, the Guardians of the Metropolia, the Ukrainian History and Education Center, plans for the 23rd Regular Sobor in October, Inter-Church Relations (the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops, the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops Beyond the Borders of Ukraine), a very important discussion about our property management and future concerns and finally, the Budget in consideration of all the above. We have many issues on the horizon concerning the life of our Church. These will be presented to all parishes through their representatives – delegates to the 23rd Regular Sobor.
“The Council of the Metropolia, meeting in its annual session on 24-25 February 2022, was profoundly saddened and affected by the unjustifiable and unlawful invasion of our beloved Ukraine – a sovereign and independent nation recognized as such by the entire world – by the armed forces of the Russian Federation at the direction of its President, Vladimir Putin. As justification for his (and his alone) decision to invade Ukraine, Mr. Putin presented a completely false version of history linking Kyivan-Rus (Ukraine) and Rosiya (English – Russia). He further accused the Ukrainian nation of anti-Semitism with plans to develop nuclear weapons, among other falsehoods. We condemn Mr. Putin for the complete lack of truth in every part of his justification and for the truth about his invasion – his desire to rebuild his beloved, but thoroughly failed Soviet Union. We condemn the silence of Russian government and spiritual leaders who know this truth but by their silence condemn perhaps thousands or millions of innocent Ukrainian people to death or serious injury. This is nothing new for the governments of the Russian Federation and/or the Soviet Union. The history of Ukraine is replete with genocide and crimes against humanity committed by them against the population of Ukraine.
We strongly urge all members of our Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, South America and the Diaspora to speak out boldly in support of the once again suffering Ukrainian nation – her government, armed forces and her people. We urge all freedom loving people to exhibit their support for the people of Ukraine not only in prayers and thoughts, but to take to the streets demanding that their elected government officials seek every possible way of supporting them with whatever they need to survive. We urge all members of our church and beyond to contribute to the fund-raising efforts on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church official website: uocofusa.org and on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Facebook page. Every penny of donations received through these efforts will go to the aid of wounded armed forces members and their families, to those suffering the consequences of the invasion with destroyed churches, homes and injuries and to those forced to become refugees in neighboring countries. We have the means and methods of providing this aid and we pray that it is plentiful.
We members of the Council of the Metropolia join citizens of the world in hundreds of cities, towns and villages throughout the world who have already gathered to manifest their prayers and support to the Ukrainian people. May our loving God in the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – receive our prayerful petitions sending the legions of angels commanded by Archangel Michael, the patron saint of Kyiv, to crush the ambitions of the aggressors.”
