Cleric Refutes Superstition: Rejecting Godparenthood is Not a Sin.

Statement from Father Oleksiy Filyuk

According to TSN.ua: Priest Oleksiy Filyuk from the Ternopil region has addressed the widely held superstition that rejecting a request to be a godparent is a sin. In a post on Instagram, he clarified that one can decline this role without feelings of guilt. He referred to the old folk belief that supposedly one renounces Christ by declining.

Filyuk strongly opposed this view. He emphasized that no one should be pressured into this responsible role if they do not wish to take it on voluntarily.

“Of course, one can decline. But if someone does not want to be a godparent, why should they be forced to?”, said the cleric.

The Freedom of Personal Decision

The priest added that living according to God's commandments is not questioned by the rejection of a godparent role.

“One can say no; there is no sin in that,” summarized Oleksiy Filyuk.

This stance by a cleric has the potential to influence the societal debate on traditional religious duties. It opens up space for discussions about the balance between tradition and individual belief. This allows for a step towards greater self-determination in religious practice, which can reduce the pressure on those who may not wish to enter certain obligations for personal reasons.