Belarusian Orthodox Church speaks out against Phanar’s actions in Ukraine
Synod of the Belarusian Orthodox Church
The Holy Synod of the Belarusian Orthodox Church expressed protest against Constantinople’s actions in Ukraine in its official statement of September 8, 2018, published on the BOC’s website.
The bishops of the Belarusian Church see the recent appointment by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of two exarchs in Kiev as "the aggressive interference of one local Church in the internal affairs of another Local Church, aimed at disrupting the foundations of inter-Orthodox peace and unity".
In this regard, the Synod of the BPC expresses full support for His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine—the canonical primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church—the archpastors, clergy, pious laity, and children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The Synod calls on the clergy and flock of the Belarusian Exarchate to lift up special prayers to the Lord for the speedy healing and overcoming of the current situation, and for the admonition and repentance of those who provoke Church disorder and schisms, and for the welfare of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the establishment of peace in the Ukrainian land.
Earlier, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has appointed Archbishop Daniel of Pamphilon (the U.S) and Bishop Hilarion of Edmonton (Canada) as its exarchs in Kiev "within the framework of the preparations for the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine". The ROC stated that Phanar’s actions would cause a resolute response.
Read also
Rada backs away from lowering marriage age to 14
Speaker Stefanchuk announced that the clause lowering the marriage age has been removed from the draft Family Code after criticism on social media.
UGCC cleric: By going underground, the UOC is trying to imitate us Uniates
Yustyn Boyko said that UOC supporters are trying to copy the experience of the Uniates who lived underground under the USSR – but they will not succeed, because they are incapable of sacrifice.
Cleric of Constantinople: Patriarch Kirill planned to become UOC primate
According to Govorun, if he had not been elected patriarch, the current head of the ROC planned to learn Ukrainian and lead the autocephalist movement in Ukraine.
UK House of Lords blocks euthanasia bill
The upper chamber of the British Parliament has halted the advance of an initiative on euthanasia.
Jerusalem opens a Second Temple–era pilgrimage road
After 13 years of excavations in Jerusalem, a 1st-century pilgrimage route from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount has been opened to visitors.
In Nikopol, TRC abducts rector of Trinity Church directly from the temple
In Dnipropetrovsk Region, a UOC priest was detained on church grounds and taken to Dnipro; the community has been left without its rector and is asking for prayers.