President promises not to sign anti-church bill

On September 7, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, in his address to the Verkhovna Rada deputies, said that he would not sign the bill, according to which the candidatures of bishops should be agreed with the state bodies.

This is bill No. 4511.

"Separately, I want to emphasize that I will not sign the bill that proposes to agree on the candidatures of bishops and priests by state bodies," the President said. "It's not a matter of the state. Other legislative initiatives I am ready to be discussed."

In his address, Poroshenko said that "the Ukrainian state is separated from the Church", but "Ukraine has the right to the Local Church", and said that he personally wrote a message to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew about this.

Also, the President's speech did not touch upon bills No. 4128 and No. 5309 directed against the UOC.

Read also

Upper Lavra court hearing postponed

The next court hearing in the Upper Lavra case has been scheduled for November 3.

UOC priest blesses ambulances at Kamianske medical center

A UOC priest in Kamianske blessed ambulances for a medical facility and wished its doctors God's help in their work.

Dumenko to German ambassador: Law targeting UOC also applies to other groups

Epifaniy Dumenko sought to defend Ukraine’s law restricting religious organizations during a meeting with the German ambassador.

Activists bused to court hearings in UOC cases, media say

A minibus has been spotted transporting protesters to and from courthouses where UOC cases are being heard.

Firefighters save historic UOC church from fire in Zakarpattia

A fire broke out at a UOC church in the Tiachiv district, damaging the altar and church furnishings.

Volyn Eparchy faithful collect six tons of aid for Sviatohirsk Lavra

Believers in Volyn collected food and warm clothing for people displaced by the war who have found shelter at Sviatohirsk Lavra.