National Guard officials refute prohibition of the involvement of UOC priests in chaplain service
"The Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs approved the Regulations on the Service of the Military Clergy (Chaplain Service) in the National Guard of Ukraine, but, as some media report, the activities of the priests of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate are not prohibited," it was reported.
In the clarification, referring to Article 35 of the Constitution of Ukraine, it is emphasized that "no normative legal act prohibits or restricts the members of the National Guard in the freedom of beliefs and religion, freedom to profess any religion or to profess no religion, to freely practice religious rites and ceremonial rituals, alone or collectively, and to pursue religious activities".
The National Guard officials explain that "it is a question of the fact that the priests of those religious organizations whose centers are in the territory of the aggressor country can be prevented from entering the military units".
Earlier, the deputy commander of the National Guard for the work with the military personnel Yaroslav Spodar stated that the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov had forbidden the involvement of the UOC priests in chaplain service in the National Guard.
Read also
Moldova lacks capacity to maintain 800 temples it intends to seize from Church
According to the Minister of Culture, authorities plan to seize 800 churches from the Moldovan Church, but they lack the capability to manage them.
Court returns seized church to UOC community in Ivankiv
The appellate court declared invalid the re-registration of the UOC community of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the town of Ivankiv.
2,800-year-old seal with biblical symbols found in Israel
Israeli archaeologists have found a stone seal from the era of Judean kings with an inscription in ancient Hebrew.
Pope warns clergy against writing AI-based sermons
The head of the Roman Catholic Church warned priests about the risks of using digital technologies in ministry.
UOC parishes abroad hold memorial services on war anniversary
Clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church abroad prayed on the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Persecuted UOC parish in Tovtry performs reading of Great Penitential Canon
Another Bukovynian community, deprived of its church, continues Great Lent services in an adapted facility.