Ukrainian autocephalists attack residence of Metropolitan of Krivoy Rog

Several dozen Ukrainian activists in favor of Constantinople creating a new, autocephalous church in Ukraine storm the residence of His Eminence Metropolitan Ephraim of Krivoy Rog on Saturday.

Brandishing posters campaigning for the new church, they tried to break down the Metropolitan’s door and gate and shouted insults at him, reports the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The Metropolitan’s crime, in their eyes, is his stance of loyalty to the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church rather than joining with the Ukrainian schismatics in a new church. At a meeting with representatives of the main department of the national police in the Dnipropetrovsk Region and the Dnipropetrovsk regional department of the Ukrainian Security Services in October, Met. Ephraim testified to his faithfulness to the canonical Church and its primate His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine.

Moreover, Met. Ephraim was among the 82 bishops who signed the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Council of Bishops on November 13 which reaffirmed the Ukrainian Church’s severance of communion with Constantinople and demanded the repentance of the Ukrainian schismatics if they wanted to unite in the Church.

The provocateurs’ posters had slogans that revealed their political motivations, such as “Leave Moscow, return to Ukraine, Ephraim,” and “Ephraim, forget Moscow.”

National police watched the entire event unfold though they did nothing as the provocateurs damaged the diocesan building and shouted calls for religious enmity.

One of the participants admitted to being a member of the terrorist group Right Sector and that he is not a religious person but yet favors the creation of the new church. Another admitted he is “in the know” about the current situation in Ukraine but only supports “a free Ukraine,” and a third simply demanded that Vladyka Ephraim change his position.

The protesters hung up their posters on the gate and fence of the residence and having spoken with one policeman, dispersed.

Met. Ephraim was previously added to the Ukrainian government-backed website “Peacemaker” which compiles personal information on those deemed “enemies of Ukraine.” The site warns His Eminence to flee the country.

Source: Orthochristian.com