Georgian Church believers hold rally in Tbilisi in support of persecuted UOC
A rally in Tbilisi in support of the UOC. Photo: sputnik-georgia.ru
On June 27, a rally in support of the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) was held outside the European Union Embassy in Tbilisi.
Many representatives of the Georgian Orthodox Church clergy participated in the event. The participants accused the EU of supporting the persecution of canonical Orthodoxy and held portraits of UOC hierarchs who are on trial.
In the video from the event, you can see that the posters held by the participants depicted specific representatives of the Ukrainian clergy who are in detention and contained other facts about the persecution of the UOC.
During a sermon following a prayer service, priest David Isakadze stated that the situation with the UOC reminds Georgians of what happened in Georgia in the 1920s and 1930s. "We heard, read, and saw this in documentaries," he said.
Additionally, Georgian politician Jondi Bagaturia emphasized that the current Ukrainian authorities are openly persecuting Orthodoxy and the clergy. He also noted the EU's silence regarding these persecutions.
The Georgian Patriarchate did not officially endorse the rally but did not prohibit it either.
Earlier, UOJ reported that a member of the Ukrainian parliament published a list of UOC representatives being persecuted by the authorities.
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.