Deputy Head of MP DECR: We hope religious freedom to be restored in Ukraine
Archpriest Nikolai Balashov
The Russian Orthodox Church hopes that international norms regarding the maintenance of religious freedom will be restored in Ukraine. It was said by Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, deputy head of the Department for External Church Relations (DECR) of the Moscow Patriarchate on Tuesday, April 23, reports TASS.
Commenting on the decision of the Kiev District Administrative Court to satisfy the claim of the Kiev Metropolis against the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and halt the process of forced renaming the UOC, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov noted that “this is certainly a positive step.”
“We will closely monitor the further consideration of this lawsuit, as well as the appeals of 49 MPs of the Verkhovna Rada, previously accepted for consideration by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. We hope for the restoration of the action in Ukraine of internationally accepted norms relating to ensuring religious freedom,” said the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church.
As the UOJ reported, the Kiev District Administrative Court halted the process of involuntary renaming of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to the judges, amending the name of the UOC at the present time (before the court decision on the case) may lead to unjustified state intervention in the affairs of the religious organization.
Read also
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry plans advocacy visits abroad for UCCRO
Members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations have planned advocacy visits abroad following a meeting with Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister.
UOC priest detained by recruitment officers in Kyiv sent to training ground
UOC priest Maksym Kostiuchenko, who was detained on his way to a church service in Kyiv, has been sent to a military training ground in Chernihiv Region.
25 tons of humanitarian aid from Volyn reach Sviatohirsk Lavra
Around 25 tons of food donated by believers of the UOC Volyn Eparchy arrived at Sviatohirsk Lavra on October 22.
UOC West European Vicariate holds children's camp in Germany
A children’s camp was held in the UOC’s Western Deanery in Germany from October 19 to 23.
Vinnytsia Metropolitan consecrates UOC Intercession church in Luka-Barska
Metropolitan Varsonofy consecrated the Church of the Intercession in Luka Barska, Vinnytsia Region, and celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the new church.
“Joy of All Who Sorrow” lower сhurch сonsecrated in Korosten
Metropolitan Nikodim of Zhytomyr and Novohrad-Volynskyi presided over the consecration of the church and celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Korosten.