US Secretary of State urges Ukraine to move toward autocephalous Church

Politician, diplomat, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, in a statement published on the website of the US State Department on Friday, October 19, called on the Ukrainian authorities to continue moving towards the creation of an autocephalous Church, reports Korrespondent.net.

“We call on the Church and the authorities of the country to move towards the creation of an autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The United States reiterates its support for religious freedom and freedom of religious groups, including Orthodox in Ukraine,” wrote an American politician and stressed that he supports the desire of Ukrainians to“ independently manage their religion and pray as they like.”

To be reminded, earlier the special representative of the US State Department for Ukraine Kurt Volker said that the United States is a secular state, based on the principle of freedom of religion and does not interfere in the solution of religious issues in Ukraine.

As the UOJ reported, on September 11, President Poroshenko met with the US Ambassador for international religious freedom, Samuel Brownback. As the presidential press service noted, “Ambassador Brownback assured that the United States will continue to support Ukraine in the struggle to restore sovereignty and territorial integrity and the right to have a Single Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.”

Read also

OCU chaplain: A soldier should not feel guilty for killing enemies

According to a cleric of the OCU, the word “killing” should not even be used in this context.

AFU servicewoman punished by “being sent to the frontline” for defending UOC

An OCU representative explained how commanders punish UOC believers who defend their Church.

UOC church seized after OCU's and UGCC's provocation at soldier's funeral

Supporters of the UGCC brought the body of a soldier into the church, pressuring a UOC priest to conduct the funeral according to the Greek Catholic rite in an Orthodox church.

UOC hierarch calls on the faithful to pray for the return of seized shrine

Metropolitan Theodosiy urged the faithful to communal and personal prayer to Archangel Michael.

Russian Orthodox Church Primate: Christ did not condemn death penalty

The Patriarch added that, although the Church does not welcome the death penalty, it has never condemned it if this punishment is carried out in accordance with the law.

Metropolitan Jonathan appeals sentence to Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has requested criminal case files from the Vinnytsia City Court for cassation review.