UOC spokesman: Authorities may take away temples, not faithful, from Church
Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC Protopriest Nikolai Danilevich
Commenting on the situation around the Pochaev Lavra, Protopriest Nikolai Danilevich, Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC, said that officials are trying to make the monastery defenceless in front of them, reports the "1Kozak" channel.
“The situation that has developed around the Pochaev Lavra tells us that no matter what legal documents our temples and monasteries possess, in our country all documents, the most super-legal ones, can be cancelled. And therefore, the documents will not save, people will save,” the UOC spokesman emphasized.
According to him, “a church where people go will be at least difficult to take away ... The Pochaev Lavra is a holy place where entire Ukraine comes, and not only Ukraine but Moldova, Belarus, Orthodox people from Russia ... They think that they will take away temples from us, and together with temples, they will take away people. They are wrong.”
As the UOJ reported, President Poroshenko earlier said that the state guarantees the right to freedom of religion, but the Moscow Patriarchate will no longer “grandstand” here.
Read also
Major U.S. hospital network refuses to implement new assisted suicide law
Advocate Health Care said it would not participate in Illinois’ assisted suicide program.
OCU activists call TRC to service of persecuted UOC community in Kremenchuk
After seizing the Holy Trinity Church in Kremenchuk, Dumenko's followers attempted to disrupt the worship service of UOC believers held in the open air.
Bila Tserkva authorities attempting to seize monastery building from UOC
The Bila Tserkva City Council is attempting to reclaim the buildings of the St. Mary Magdalene Convent for communal ownership through the courts.
Egyptian police arrest Christians targeted in Muslim attacks
Copts were released once they withdrew their complaints against their assailants.
Primate of Macedonian Church congratulates Lavra's abbot on name day
Archbishop Stefan noted the zeal of the Lavra's abbot, who shares the sorrows of his flock.
Persecuted community in Stari Broskivtsi marks patronal feast in new church
The rector thanked the faithful for building a new church to replace the one that was seized.