Vinnitsa state employees are forced to attend OCU services
The Holy Transfiguration Cathedral of Vinnitsa is under control of Metropolitan Simeon banned from ministry
From the evening of December 15, 2018 (Saturday), the leadership obliged Vinnitsa state employees to attend almost every service at the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral, which is occupied by Metropolitan Simeon (Shostatsky) banned from serving by the Synod of the UOC.
Our sources told a UOJ correspondent that the citizens of Ukraine had to ensure maximum attendance on Sunday. People are forced to go to the services under signature; at some enterprises, employees are forcibly divided into groups to attend the Cathedral seized by the OCU.
In the case of disobedience or disclosure of information, employees of the city executive committee, medical and educational institutions and other state establishments are threatened with dismissal.
On December 17, 2018, the Synod of the UOC decided to ban Metropolitan Simeon (Shostatsky) from ministry.
On the same day, at the evening Divine service, Vladyka Simeon said that the UOC believers would not be able to return the Transfiguration Cathedral in Vinnitsa, as it was in 1991. The bishop, banned from ministry, said that the Cathedral’s premises remained with the community, which had joined the OCU.
Read also
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.
Congress Speaker: Demand to introduce Sharia law in USA is a serious problem
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that there is growing concern in society about attempts to impose Islamic law, which is incompatible with the American Constitution.
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".