Not too many hear us, but we do not lose heart, – Primate of UOC
"The relationship between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian state can be described as not simple," said His Beatitude Onufry. "As of today, there are twelve bills in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine concerning public morality and the activities of religious organizations. Among them, the following bills can be classified as positive: No. 6747 (regarding the right of a doctor to refuse abortion for reasons of conscience); No. 6696 (on the abolition of the requirements for mandatory re-registration of religious organizations as a condition for preserving non-profitability) and No. 6642 (on simplifying the registration of documents when registering religious organizations).
The Primate of the UOC noted that in addition to positive legislative initiatives, there are bills in the Verkhovna Rada that clearly violate the rights of believers of the UOC.
"The following bills should be described as negative: No. 4128 (regarding the change of their subordination by religious communities); No. 4511 (on the establishment of a special status for religious organizations) and No. 5309 (concerning the name of religious organizations within the structure of the religious organization whose governing center is located in a state recognized as the aggressor state), said His Beatitude. "These bills did not undergo public discussion and are discriminatory, because they substantially restrict the rights of religious organizations and provide for interference in their activities."
Also, the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine spoke about the peace-making efforts of the UOC.
"Unfortunately, not too many people hear us, but we do not lose heart and speak, for we know that we, priests, will be judged by God for whether we spoke about it or not, and politicians – for whether they listened to what they were reminded of or not," said His Beatitude Onufry.
Read also
A UOC deacon died while saving a drowning child in Finland
The deacon immediately rushed to help after seeing the child in danger, but could not make it back to shore himself.
The TCC abducted a priest of the Tulchyn Diocese of the UOC
The whereabouts of the archpriest of the UOC detained by the TCC are currently unknown.
Pagan Kupala festival held on Odesa seashore
An ethno-festival titled “Kupala Night” was held on an inclusive beach in Odesa.
Zelensky: I am not Prince Volodymyr, and Nawrocki is not a king
Zelensky attempted a play on the Polish president’s name by alluding to a “king,” although the name Karol derives from the Germanic Karl rather than from the word “king.”
March in defense of family and Christian upbringing held in Macedonia
In the city of Bitola, thousands of faithful joined a march to defend young people’s right to live according to the norms of the Orthodox faith.
Lavra strike sparked my fury, we will bring war back to “Rashka” – Zelensky
The Ukrainian president said the Russian strike on the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra made him furious and promised to “bring the war back” to Russian territory.