ROC spokesman: Taking away Pochaev Lavra, authorities intimidate believers
Head of the ROC Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and Mass Media Vladimir Legoyda
The actions of the state authorities of Ukraine against the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra are aimed at intimidating believers of the UOC, said Vladimir Legoyda, Chairman of the ROC Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and Mass Media, on the official website of the Synodal Department.
He considers attacks on the Lavra by the authorities, whose term of office expires in a few months, “absolutely lawless and politically motivated”.
“The goal of these measures is blatant discrimination against believers of Ukraine, attempts to force them to make a religious choice in favour of a quasi-religious structure,” the ROC spokesman commented on the actions of the Ukrainian authorities against the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra.
He hopes that the law will triumph, and attempts to intimidate believers of the UOC and anti-religious persecution in Ukraine will stop thanks to the efforts of the world community.
On November 23, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine cancelled the re-registration of the buildings of the Holy Dormition Pochayev Lavra.
Read also
MP demands answers from Rivne authorities over UOC charity event
Bobrovska expressed outrage that city officials allowed the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC to hold a charity festival that raised money for children with cancer.
In U.S., Archbishop of Albania leads Divine Liturgy on Triumph of Orthodoxy
The Primate of the Albanian Church served in Massachusetts and called for visible unity among Orthodox jurisdictions.
Phanar backs common Easter date with Catholics and Protestants
Theologians of the Patriarchate of Constantinople have proposed revising calendar practice and bringing the celebration of Easter closer to the Western tradition.
DESS congratulates Ukraine’s Jews on Purim
The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience addressed Ukraine’s Jewish community on the occasion of Purim.
Patriarch Bartholomew becomes honorary professor of ecology in Greece
The Ionian University of Greece has awarded Patriarch Bartholomew the honorary title of professor in its Department of Environment.
Phanar’s shift to new calendar triggered Orthodox schism – ROCOR hierarch
Metropolitan Mark called Constantinople’s adoption of the Gregorian calendar the main source of divisions in the Orthodox world.