Ovruch, Ukraine, January 17, 2018

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is rejoicing over the return to its fold of another schismatic priest. Anatoly Stanislavovich Vasilenko has offered his repentance for having been a member of the self-styled “Kiev Patriarchate” and returned to the true Church of Christ in Ukraine under the headship of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, reports the site of the Ovruch Diocese.

The former priest of the “Kiev Patriarchate” under the self-proclaimed “Patriarch” Philaret consciously, and with the majority of his parishioners, offered his repentance in the Church of the Holy Protection in Korosten, Ukraine, 98 miles northwest of Kiev, in the presence of diocesan administrator Metropolitan Vissarion of Ovruch and Korosten.

“I, Anatoly Stanislavovich Vasilenko, have realized the gravity of my sin of schism, being a ‘priest’ of the so-called church of the ‘Kiev Patriarchate,’” Fr. Anatoly writes in his letter of repentance, dated January 11. “I ask His Eminence to receive my sincere repentance. I want to be a humble servant in the Holy Church of God,” the former priest writes.

Vasilenko goes on to say that in reading a number of theological books, he became convicted that there is only one unified Church, and that he needed to join it. He notes that he was especially moved by Sts. Ignatius of Antioch, Cyprian of Carthage, and John Chrysostom.

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