April 15, 2023 on the Greek portal Romfea.gr. an article was published that the rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, Archbishop Sylvester of Belogorodsk, held a video conference with journalists: Thomas Lambrinis, Paris Karvounopoulos, Emilius Polienis and Phanasis Avgerinos. During the online meeting, Rector answered numerous questions about the situation that has developed in Ukraine, and, in particular, in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, about persecution and state-church relations. This was reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC with reference to the press service of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary.

Archbishop Sylvester also answered how exactly all these events are experienced by ordinary believers, especially on the eve of the Easter holiday.

At the end, the bishop Sylvester not only commented on the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to grant church autocephaly, but also answered whether this decision was made under the “pressure” of external forces.