A schismatic should repent to avoid even worse schism, – Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovchan (VIDEO)

Schism is born by pride. A human succumbs to his/her pride and infects others. It was said by Metropolitan of Lovchan Gabriel of the Bulgarian Orhtodox Church in his interview to the UOC representatives who visited Bulgaria on 10-12 February, reports the UOC Information and Education Department

His Eminence underscored there cannot be any God's grace in schism. «Without the divine grace Church caanot exist. People should return to the canonical Church where there is a divine grace and where humans can find salvation. Schism is an adverse and harmful phenomenon,» he explained.

«He who becomes a schismatic shows what he is, said the hierarch. – If such a man is allowed to think he is right, one should expect him to do nothing good in the future. But if he repents and confesses to his sin of schism, then it makes a difference. There is a hope he may change. That is why an alternative way of seeking a compromise with schismatics, as it was shown by the history, has never yielded any positive outcome.»

«A dissenter should repent. Only in this case he may follow a new path. Unless he repents, he may cause another schism, even worse than it used to be,» emphasized Metropolitan Gabriel.

«We love Ukraine very much, there live Orthodox people who are very close to us spiritually. We are sorrowful there is no peace in this country, it is hit by the fratricidal war, brothers stand up against brothers – this is a big tragedy. We pray God to bestow peace to the ancient Church of Ukraine and to this old country,» he said and added that «His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry is a big mercy of the Lord for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,» concluded His Eminence.