Archbishop Victor (Kotsaba) of Baryshivka, commenting on the incident in the Lavra, noted that the publication of a video with singing in the Lavra is “a manifestation of the information war in order to discredit the “competitor” and try to incite hatred towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the society.”  This is reported by the Politica website.

The hierarch recalled that “the Ukrainian Orthodox Church now not only prays for our soldiers at the front, but also provides them with great help every day.”

Thus, the bishop writes further, “a few days ago, with the blessing of our Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, I happened to visit the Svyatogorsk Lavra and its environs with humanitarian aid.  I had to see with my own eyes the terrible destruction that the Svyatogorsk Lavra was subjected to.  And this mission is just a drop in the ocean.  The UOC helps the Armed Forces of Ukraine, refugees and IDPs every day.”

“Apparently,” concludes the bishop, “someone is very concerned about this, believing that the UOC is trying to “pay off” by providing humanitarian assistance.”

“We are not at all opposed to other religious organizations “paying off” in the same way, but on their part we see more other activity – on the “information front,” the hierarch emphasized.

The “church war” continues to tear our society apart, which is simply unacceptable in a real war,” the bishop noted and stated that “such destructive activity only works to split Ukrainian society, which entails internal weakening in favor of an external enemy.”