Mass Media: A functionary dismissed from PA who promised Tomos by July 28th

Former Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine Rostislav Pavlenko

It was Pavlenko who in the establishment of Bankovaya street initiated an idea of granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church, reports Strana.UA.

Referring to their sources, the journalists of the outlet write that Rostislav Pavlenko promised that Tomos on autocephaly would be granted to Ukraine well before the Day of the Baptism of Rus.

"Initially, it was clear that such a complex issue, given the colossal resistance of Moscow and the ROC, cannot be resolved within a few months in such a conservative structure as the Church,"  cites Strana.UA its source from Bankovaya. “But the President was surrounded by a group of people led by Rostislav Pavlenko, who decided to give Poroshenko a "wunderwaffe" to win the election. They convinced him it was possible to quickly reach an agreement with the Ecumenical Patriarchate on autocephaly and sell it to the voter as a sweeping victory. It was on the basis of their information that Poroshenko voiced an approximate date for receiving the Tomos before July 28th. But the reality came out completely different. It turns out that Pavlenko and Co. have simply set up the President."

Pavlenko replaced Vladimir Gorbulin as director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies.

Read also

Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession

The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.

Festival marking Orthodox Youth Day held in UOC's Volyn Eparchy

In Lutsk, the UOC’s annual youth forum brought together parish groups, clergy, and participants in a creative program for Orthodox Youth Day.

London mayor switches on festive Ramadan lights

In London, the Muslim mayor inaugurated Ramadan illuminations: a central street was decorated with a “Happy Ramadan” sign and Islamic-style ornaments.

DESS: Ramadan is a time of special closeness to the Almighty

DESS congratulated Ukraine’s Muslims on the beginning of Ramadan.

Jehovah’s witness pastor sentenced in Lviv region for refusing TRC service

A court in Lviv region sentenced a Jehovah’s Witness pastor to five years in prison for unauthorized absence from his unit and for refusing to serve as a TRC cook.

Orthodox Church in America raises $700,000 for Ukrainians in Poland

An OCA representative met with Metropolitan Sava and discussed humanitarian support for Ukrainian refugees in Poland.