Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia: The Church of Ukraine has existed since the time Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry is its Primate
On 3 February 2019, His Beatitude Metropolitan Rostislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia addressed the worshippers after the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Nicholas in Kotelniki – the Moscow metochion of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. He said that Orthodoxy around the world was experiencing a difficult trial also in connection with the events in Ukraine.
His Beatitude mentioned the so called enthronement of the newly elected head of the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” and underscored: “But in truth the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has existed for centuries, from the time of Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles and Princess Olga, from the Baptism in the Dnieper River, and now it has its Primate – His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine.”
“Some high-ranking hierarchs decided to deny it is fact, considered things confirmed by centuries as null and void, and proclaimed this imposter “metropolitan of All Ukraine.” His Beatitude called people to pray to the Lord and beseech His aid “in overcoming this temptation of our church life.”
“We have arrived with a visit to the Russian Orthodox Church not as supporters of a party, but as supporters of the canonical status of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry. We express our support to him as to bishop-confessor and to the Church he heads,” His Beatitude Metropolitan Rostislav said.