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"Tomos
must be given to the UOC-MP". Many people in Ukraine and around
the world are watching events taking place in our church life. Kiev
rages on news from Constantinople, the word "tomos" is
transmitted word by word. Only
one event separates Ukrainians from the historical moment of the
proclamation of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church - the unifying
Synod of Ukrainian churches (UOC-MP, UOC-KP, and the UAOC). In
it the bishops must elect a new primate who will serve in the
Orthodox world in the largest church with regard to the number of
parishes. To
make things happen, the irreconcilable "canonical" and
"schismatics" should be united in that Synod.
However,
it is difficult to understand how these roles are now
distributed. Metropolitan of Cherkasy and Kaniv Sofrony
is a bishop of the UOC-MP. His authority among the bishops and
among the faithful is very high. He is an example of the revival
of the spiritual life of Cherkassy, the most aesthetic,
according to the ruler of the region.
Metropolitan
Sofrony is also known for being a consistent advocate for the local
Autocephalous Orthodox Church; he well remembered the period of
atheism, the renaissance and split of the churches, even to its
smallest details. Bishop Sofrony speaks several languages; he
participated in the construction of hundreds of temples in Cherkassy
region, 50 of them built on their own projects, are professionally
fond of iconography and of the translation of the Holy Bible and the
Liturgy in Ukrainian; and he has students all over the world.
The
views that the Bishop has expressed in the conversation with the
"Glavkom" are extremely important for the preparation of
the unifying Synod, the culmination of which will be the receipt of
Thomos and the establishment of an independent autocephalous
church. These thoughts should be heard in Ukraine and in
Constantinople. And the meeting with the bishop began with the
words of St. Paul the apostle from the "Rule Book", who
himself translated for more than a year: "When I pray in a
stranger's language, though my spirit prays, but my mind remains
without fruit".
Q:
Vladika, in the Cherkasy diocese, you served already 26 years. How
did the diocese change during these years?
Bishop
Sofrony:
I served as a mere priest in 1978 in the Cherkassy land. By that
time in Cherkassy region there were 54 temples. Already during my
episcopal ministry they "fell" (laughs) to 507. All of them
are open to me, they are all sanctified by me, and 50 temples are
built directly on my own projects. In Cherkassy itself there was
not a single temple. There are already seven temples, in 2002
St. Michael Cathedral was opened, one of the largest Orthodox
cathedrals in the world. It was built solely on the donations of
believers, without sponsors. Our Sponsors: The Lord and the
Mother of God. Near you, you saw, the belfry is being built, the
largest in Ukraine. There will also be a home for orphans.
Metropolitan
Sofrony demonstrates the model of the bell tower.
In
addition, Cherkassy diocesan administration, houses for priests near
each temple were built. It's
been more than 30 years since the Lord blessed me to walk, stumble
upon this spiritually scorched earth. No
region has suffered from atheistic invasion as Cherkassy region. My
first parish had just 15 people. Today,
in the Cathedral, on Saturday evening, there are up to one thousand
lay people. At
Sunday liturgy we never had less than 1,5 thousand. There
are seven monasteries in the region, male and female. In
the largest of them there are 100 nuns. The
inhabitants of the monasteries are coming from all over Ukraine.
"We
have so many saints and shrines as there are in no other Orthodox
country in the world."
Q:
Do you see people in Ukraine who are moral authority for a nation
today?
Bishop
Sofrony:
The
trouble is that I stopped looking for the saints in our lives. All
those who once were for me authority, who were spiritually strong,
gifted to God - fortunately for them, and for us, unfortunately, they
are no longer in this world.
Q:
Do nations need spiritual authority?
Bishop
Sofrony:
Such
people, as ever, are needed for Ukraine! However,
not very harshly our people will listen to such people. Today,
some grandfather with a buckwheat in his beard will listen more than
a bishop or priest. Our
people became read. Readable,
but spiritually weak! Many read, but not what is useful for human
spirituality. There
is also the other side. Ukraine
is so rich in spirituality, entering into this spiritual life of our
people, as nations, all kinds of authority can dim. We
have so many saints and shrines as there are in no Orthodox country
of the world. No
city can boast like Kiev. For
example, only the saintly laurels reside in the 150 reverend. In
Cherkasy region, over the years of my ministry, more than 150 saints
have been opened and brought to holiness through the confirmation of
the synod of our church.
Q:
How did you spiritually enrich yourself in times difficult for the
church?
Bishop
Sofrony:
When
I was a student, I just heard about a high moral spiritual person, I
tried to meet her, because of questions and advice to borrow her
wisdom, experience. True,
such people, as a rule, do not show their spiritual inner side. They
always hide, live so that they are condemned and not glorified.
So,
it was given by God that during my life I lived with really alive
holy people. I
talked to them, so right now with you (laughs). By
their instructions, I lived in that terrible Khrushchev,
Brezhnev-Andropov period. It
was extremely difficult, but I survived. My
spiritual parents are Father Tikhon, who helped me cursed into a
spiritual seminary. Father
Cyril, who trimmed me to the monks and holy Moses Ufimsky, who
revealed all my future life in front of me. Until
now, I use their guides. Now
when I hear that a miracle worker appeared in the area, then I am
skeptical of this. I
call such people not branded, but old men. Thanks
to the thousands of our saints, I use their luggage of spirituality.
Q:
Today you have spiritual children around the world. Did
the Ukrainian nation grows spiritually?
Bishop
Sofrony:
For
many years, spirituality, faith was eradicated in Ukraine. Due
to objective circumstances, priests were ordained engineers,
policemen, professors, etc. The priests worked on the necessary
action and did not pay attention to the education of their
parishioners; there was no opportunity. Time
is changing. We
have no service in the diocese without sermons. It's
important for people to hear a living word. They
hear tips on how to pray, how to be fasting, how to live in families
and in society. It
helps people to spiritually enrich themselves. And
yet ... An Orthodox Christian only a year later, visiting the temple,
can say that he begins to understand something. And
most importantly, if you want people to hear and not condemn you, you
need to be an example in everything. This
is very important.
Q:
Vladika, during your years of service, how did your parishioners
change?
Bishop
Sofrony:
Man
as such is always the same. The
church is young. When
I came to serve, there were more pensioners in the church, there were
few middle-aged people. Now
there are almost no elderly people. Just
those who went through that terrible atheistic period were stronger
spiritually. Now
people are more knowledgeable. Then
people were raised by faith, and now they are brought up by
knowledge, they read more, the priest knows ... But the priests for
the second time - not in their place. At
all times, the church raised a sense of fear, slavery in man, fear of
priests. As
a rule, the faces of people in our churches are sadness, anxiety,
sorrow.
Don’t
you agree?
Q:
One must have fear. But this fear must be before God, reverence
before him. This
is the basis of our ministry, our life.
Bishop
Sofrony: But
this is not slavish fear! It
is a fear of love that a person is loving God, afraid of his actions
to offend him. I
have to be afraid of you. But
this is another fear. It
is a fear that I am afraid to tell you such that not to hurt your
weak spiritual soul. I
even heard from people: "I do not want to be a servant of
God. Who
am I, a slave? " But
this word needs to be understood in a different way. His
meaning is to serve God with his life, work hard for his spiritual
enrichment. Yes,
of course, such imposing, semantic distortions were atheistic
times. We
told you that you were slaves, invented everything to only humiliate
the priesthood and Christians. Regarding
the clergy, in pre-revolutionary times, in the flowering of faith,
the priests traveled to the raccoons. And
all the people took off their hats and bowed. Thus,
respect was shown, it was not slavery.
Q:
You have books everywhere: in the cabinets, on the shelves, the table
is all in the books ...
Bishop
Sofrony: "The
monk of the Menny lived. Had
a hundred books. He slept on them. And
I did not know what was in them "(laughs). I
have a library: I have collected 8 thousand books for my life. Visas
from Vologda, Yaroslavl, Kostroma. During
the time of students at the spiritual seminary and the spiritual
academy (MDA) knew all the bookshops. The
book always accompanies me in my life. Now
many books have been given to the diocese. (Metropolitan
Sofronius stands up and shows his own translation into the Ukrainian
"Rule Book." This collection of prayer texts is completely
written off in pencil). My
experience of teaching in the Church Slavonic Seminary, as well as
knowledge of Slavic languages, helps me translate into Ukrainian.
"In
Russia, I was called a nationalist, Khokhlom, and then expelled from
there."
Q:
You have all your life been an indefatigable champion of the
autocephalous
Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Your
word is often sharp, but very good, it's heard. Many
believe that other priests of the UOC-MP will pull on to join
you. You
have lived up to this happy moment. What
emotions overwhelm you?
Bishop
Sofrony: I'll
tell you one thing. In
order to express one's opinion, one must be Ukrainian in order to
express his vision of a church question. You
need to have the dignity of a person of his people. We
must love our people. We do not have this. We,
having lived 400 years in slavery, only did what they sold each
other. If
someone began to defend his native land, he is immediately attributed
the label "nationalist". If,
for example, to take the Serbs, the Serbs extremely nationalist,
Russians - no less. And
for some reason, we cannot speak publicly about our nationality. My
parents have raised love for my people in me, I love my people. For
me to go to the prophet Moses far, but I have the courage to speak in
his words: "If my people are better off my suffering, then I am
ready to suffer today." We
must have dignity, love and responsibility not to live for ourselves,
but for the sake of our people. I
do not think about how my brothers will look at me today what they
will say to me. Convict
or drive out of this chair ... In Russia, I was called a nationalist,
a Khokhlom and then expelled from there. And
now in Ukraine, I am also called a nationalist, that I am
worthless. But
I've been keeping one line for a long time: if it's good for my
people, I'm ready to suffer for them. And
without suffering in our lives - there is no life. The
Lord has suffered for all. And
every person should suffer for him/herself. If
you are worried about the people whom the Lord has entrusted to you,
then this will be praise to you. But
praise is not now, but in eternity, from God!
Q:
Bishop, will the path that the autocephalous church has now become,
to the unity of the UOC-MP and the UOC-KP?
Bishop
Sofrony: Firstly,
I am very glad that the Greeks have unearthed the truth that was kept
from 1686 to today. They
did not open it, but they knew this truth. Now
they just said. But
only 20% know this truth, 80% do not know about it, even priests. As
for unity, it will be very difficult for us. Our
people are brought up on the fact that there were two Romes, and the
third Rome - Moscow, and the fourth will not happen. For
people, it is constantly tricked into the head. But
if you approach in principle, then you ask yourself: why do you have
Moscow? But
this is not asked. Repeat
only what we were there.
Q:
And what good? Look
at people's lives ...
Bishop
Sofrony: It's
good that our church is big, the largest in Ukraine, but this does
not mean that all people are of the same opinion that Moscow is
good. There
are people who have a different opinion. But
for some reason these people are silenced, they do not want to hear
them. Hijacking
labels of traitors ... That is, the understanding between the
churches is still far away ... From my point of view, for our church
is now a moment like never before. Today,
one can do so, that there will be no church split in Ukraine
(knocking on the table). But
if we do not agree, as my brothers still do, they will make the split
themselves and will be blamed for the split in Ukraine. It
all came to the point that the president wants unity, Constantinople
decides, and you use it. Yes
No! We
do not want to. And
it is asked: "Why?" There
are no answers to this question. They
say to me: "Why do you lay down, what do you want?" I
answer: "I want peace and peace in Ukraine. I
want my people to live like all Orthodox Christians: in Greece,
Serbia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Constantinople. " Because
we have so many monasteries. Listen
- 12 thousand wards! And
if you add the UOC-KP and UAOC, it will be the largest church
throughout the world among Orthodox churches. We
have three lavras. We
have many believers and monasteries, we have a lot of monks. Why
cannot we manage ourselves? Although the situation is not bad at the
moment. We
are independent from Moscow in everything. But one word, it spoils
the whole porridge, which is cooked extremely delicious. This
word is "Moscow". Well,
if it interferes, talk to the patriarch. Tell
him: let's get rid of good things. Express
your will! Do
not tear up ties with Constantinople, get up right! We
are brothers. Yes
No! There
is no understanding ... I do not know why this is so? Therefore,
my vision is: if we make a mistake right now, and on the unifying
Synod of bishops, we will be a minority from us and they will choose
Filaret ... As he said: "I was, I am and I will be a
patriarch." This
is a shame for us!
Q:
Will you personally take part in the unifying bishop's Synod?
Bishop
Sofrony: Now
I do not know, I'll look at the circumstances. The
intention is, in order to save ... But if we have only six, of whom
we are talking about, our voice will be weak there. Therefore,
from our church there should be all, whether they want or do not want
to choose the primate. For
if Filaret is the primate, then I do not accept or accept such a
church.
Q:
Father, is your opinion known to the Exarchs of Constantinople? Did
you meet them?
Bishop
Sofrony: Yes,
I talked to them. They
were sitting here, where you are now. They
arrived before the synod in Constantinople. One
of them is my student. The
fact that with the lifting of the anathema to Filaret, this may be my
idea. Because
I asked them at once: "What church does the patriarch
Bartholomew want to give to Tomas? How
Can Tomos be given to the UOC-KP with their heads under
anathema? Before
the date, you need to remove the anathema. Therefore,
first of all, you need to talk with the bishops of the UOC-MP. They
listened and they did not tell me anything ... But then the synod of
the UOC-MP was held, in which the exarchs were accused of interfering
with the church. However,
I still insisted that they return to Metropolitan Onuphry and appeal
that Constantinople is our mother church and Moscow is not. It
was at that time that our accession was already written in Greek.
"My
candidacy is Archimandrite Cyril (Hovorun)."
Q:
So, you emphasized in your conversation with the exarchs that Tomos
should be given only to those who come from the UOC-MP?
Bishop
Sofrony: I
told them for 1.5 hours how the Russian Empire was created and how
Ukraine was joined to it. I
told them all the truth about it. Only
20 years after Bohdan Khmelnytsky gave Ukraine to Moscow, the church
was annexed. That
is, for 20 years the church was struggling for its independence. At
that time, a catechism was written, then a very high dogmatic thought
was in Ukraine. It
is the Ukrainian church that started the educational activities of
the victimized illiterate Russia. Unfortunately,
at that time the scattered Greek church was occupied by
Muslims. History
tells us that exactly this church, which is now called the UOC-MP,
should be given the Tomos. This
is a 30-million-church. Do
not make this process "cheers", prepare to be
serious. That's
what I told them. And
then, if Constantinople admitted that the Anathema to Filaret should
be lifted, it does not mean that he canceled the laying on of hands
from him. We
will have to cut off. It
is also important that Filaret removed the anathema from the
Metropolitan and was restored in the hands of the Metropolitan, and
not as he calls himself of the patriarch. This
must be recognized by him!
Q:
But, Bishop, admit that in the early 90's he was Filaret himself at
the head of the movement for the independence of the Ukrainian
Orthodoxy.
Bishop
Sofrony: He
carried this cross and must receive recognition. He
became the leader of the split. If
he did not get there, where he got there, then we would have been a
long before an independent autocephalous church.
Q:
If so, why the hierarchs of the UOC-MP never called for this
independence, why they did not openly oppose Moscow, and, as it has
been confirmed, Constantinople annexed our church?
Bishop
Sofrony: If
so fundamentally, none of our bishops share the thoughts of such
(about an independent Ukrainian church). I do not know how and who
raised them, why they have such a view. Those who go to the Synod in
Moscow, they unconditionally accept everything. And what should we
do?
Q:
Are you six bishops out of over 80, who will go the unifying council?
This is a very small number. How you can change the situation?
Bishop
Sofrony: I'll
tell you something more: they all now climbed back like crayfish,
scared. None of them will go (do not participate in the Synod), you
will see.
Q:
Do you persuade bishops somehow, do you communicate?
Bishop
Sofrony: I
became an enemy to everyone (smiling). When we had a Synod on which
primate to elect, everyone ran to me and said, "Sophronius!
Sophronius". But there was eventually only one vote for me. We
have unpredictable people.
Q:
If such a complicated situation is with the support of the creation
of a new church by the UOC-MP bishops, would you not want to push
yourself to head the local church, to show others an example?
Bishop
Sofrony: Oh
no I only win if I see that I can influence something that I deserve.
I am a pragmatic person, do not take for what is not mine.
Q:
Outside, the ball is now in the field of the UOC-MP. And right now,
this church is deciding its fate: to be in a split, to leave the
brand of "hands of Moscow "on its own, or to become the
backbone of a new local church. Can you name the most likely
candidates for whom you would vote and with what candidacy you would
never agree?
Bishop
Sofrony:
So, the moment for the church, as never before! Ecumenical The
Patriarch is ready to give Tomos and give it to the hands of the head
of the UOC, and we will refuse him! When they all went to the first
step - canceled anathema not his own, but someone else, then they go
on and We are (intellectuals of the UOC-MP) to approach, reject the
personal relations and desire of Moscow, look right in the eyes and
use the moment! My candidacy is Archimandrite Cyril (Hovorun). He is
a man of knowledge, enlightened, learned in the works of the holy
fathers. He is far from any vices, he is clean and not spoiled. As I
mentioned, I will never agree to Filaret's candidacy.
Q:
Bishop, in what language you will serve, how do you imagine the
transition to the Ukrainian language of the service of God?
Bishop
Sofrony: I
am a supporter of the Serbian tradition. There, all the services are
fully translated into Serbian. But the Serbian bishops in some
churches serve in Serbian, while others in Old Slavonic. Today we
need to work hard on the translation of trackers. After all, the
available translations do not fit anywhere. If you do not know what
you are doing? It is necessary to know the Slavic language, from
which Ukrainian came out and be a little poet. Do not distort the
most beautiful Ukrainian language with imperfect translations.
(Metropolitan Sofronius stands up and shows the translations of the
prayer texts written in the pencil, tells about the Ukrainian
alphabet, recounts the translations of the prayers he worked out,
plays them). I think of every word and sentence. I go deep into the
content. There is a prayer, the translation of which I have corrected
more than 100 times
Лілія
Клочко,
Михайло
Глуховський,
«Главком»
