Parliament of Ukraine votes for an appeal to the Patriarch of Constantinople on autocephaly of Ukrainian Orthodox Church
June 16, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the draft resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "On the Appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, Ecumenical Patriarch on the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine" (registration number 4793), informs the official portal of the Parliament.
245 deputies voted for the adoption of the draft, including Petro Poroshenko Block, Narodnyi Front (People’s Front), Samopomich (Self-help), Batkivschina (Fatherland), the Radical Party and the group "Volia Naroda"(Will of the People). The Opposition block and the group "Vidrodzhennia"(Renaissance) did not vote.
People’s deputy Maria Matios, one of the authors of the bill, said about the doubts of many deputies in legitimacy of the Rada appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. "We have such a right. This is an urgent problem for a large part of Ukrainian society. If there is an independent state, there should be independent spirit and faith," said Matios.
Recall that on 14 June the bill was approved by the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Culture and Spirituality.
Read also
DESS expert: Phanar Exarch asked bail for Chernyshov under pressure from SBU
A religious-studies commentator aligned with the OCU said the scandalous appearance of the Bishop of Comana – offering to stand surety for an official accused of large-scale corruption – was prompted by the SBU.
Persecuted UOC cathedral community holds worship in new premises
The persecuted UOC community in Volodymyr continues its liturgical life, gathering for prayer in a makeshift space.
Charismatic pastor urges “re-baptizing” UOC faithful to sever ties with RF
A Ukrainian Protestant pastor said he considers baptisms in the UOC invalid and called on Orthodox believers to undergo the rite again.
OCU “bishop”: UOC celebrates Christmas on January 7 to divide Ukrainians
Firley believes it is not those imposing the new calendar style who are dividing Ukrainian society, but those who have remained on the old one.
UOC church rector killed by shelling in Hryshyne village
In Donetsk Region, Archpriest Vasyl Kiyko – who had served for many years in a frontline village – was killed during shelling.
Cabinet extends religious communities’ use of state property to up to 50 years
The government has changed the rules for transferring religious sites, increasing contract terms and establishing priority for communities that have already been using the churches.