AUCCRO: The authorities want a monastery to operate in the Lavra
AUCCRO in the Verkhovna Rada. Photo: AUCCRO
The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations published on its website a statement following the meeting with the head of the Rada R. Stefanchuk, the head of the State Ethnic Policy V. Yelensky, the Minister of the Interior I. Klymenko and the deputy head of the SBU S. Andrushchenko.
The statement refers to the position of the AUCCRO on “the inadmissibility of the activity in Ukraine of any organizations, including religious ones, whose centers and leadership are located in the Russian Federation”, as well as “the inevitability of punishment for all persons involved in assisting the enemy and treason regardless the denomination and church they belong to and the rank they have."
Regarding the situation around the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the members of the AUCCRO stated that “the state, first of all, protects the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, which consists in the fact that the Lavra functions exactly as an Orthodox monastery open to Ukrainian believers.” However, the AUCCRO did not specify how the expulsion of the monastery from the Lavra contributes to the functioning of the Lavra as a monastery.
The members of the AUCCRO also expressed their conviction that “a high level of freedom of religion is maintained in Ukraine, there are no persecutions on religious grounds, and democratic institutions and procedures remain in effect.”
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the authorities and the AUCCRO agreed to destroy the UOC.
Read also
Prayers further offered for imprisoned UOJ journalists at Lavra's standing
People pray to the Lord to protect the "prisoners of conscience" from all sorrow, trouble, need, and illness.
Metropolitan Theodosiy's house arrest extended
The bishop participated in the hearing via videoconference, but opponents of the UOC were active near the courthouse.
Dumenko and Zoria discuss combating "Russian World" with Minister of Culture
Tochytskyi and representatives of the OCU discussed countering Russia’s attempts to destroy Ukraine's national identity.
Greek theologian: Religious situation in Ukraine divides Orthodoxy
According to the Greek theologian, "many Ukrainian Orthodox worshippers have been hesitant to leave the church under the Moscow Patriarchate and join the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine, fearing a potential excommunication for being schismatics."
OCU cleric blames TRC for forced mobilization and kidnapping of parishioners
It is reported that the mobilized person was helping with repair work in the church.
Greek theologian explains why Churches do not accuse ROC Primate of heresy
A professor from the University of Athens explained why no Orthodox Church had condemned Patriarch Kirill as heretic so far.