UOC Chancellor: Control over the Church – suicide for the state

The Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony(Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary noted that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church today is actually fighting for religious freedom and opposing attempts of the state to meddle in the Church’s affairs and control its internal life, reports the Information Center of the UOC.

"In our society today, there is no request for religious war," said Vladyka Anthony. "However, I get the impression that there are certain forces that want to form and support a request for such a war, such radicalism."

Metropolitan Anthony, arguing about attempts to put under strict control the activities of the UOC, said: "This is suicide for the state. After all, the Church is a significant part of the people, and it is counterproductive to refuse its own people to implement part of its fundamental rights or to make laws directed against its own citizens."

On September 7, the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, stated that he would personally deal with the issue of the creation of the Unified Local Church in Ukraine.

Read also

Most Britons oppose abortions, poll finds

The survey found that 62% of UK residents support legal protection for unborn children from the moment their heartbeat is first detected.

Annual academic conference opens at Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary

The fifteenth annual conference was dedicated to the anniversaries of Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrožský and Metropolitan Rafail (Zaborovský).

Feminists attack Roman Catholic churches in Latin America

During protest actions, members of radical groups attacked cathedrals in several Latin American countries, assaulted police officers, and threw paint at believers.

UOC hierarch takes part in German bishops’ conference

Bishop Veniamin of Boyarka took part in the OBKD assembly in Düsseldorf.

Ivano-Frankivsk scraps school project planned on demolished UOC church site

The authorities in Ivano-Frankivsk have dropped plans to build the school for whose construction a UOC church was demolished.

Shostatsky to UOC: If you are so righteous – do not cling to your churches

The OCU metropolitan called on UOC faithful and clergy to pray rather than defend their churches from seizures.