Legal protection of UOC churches and communities discussed in Volyn Eparchy

A meeting of the clergy of the Volyn Eparchy, 25.09.19. Photo: Volyn Eparchy of the UOC

On September 25, 2019, an annual meeting of the clergy of the Volyn Eparchy of the UOC was held at the Lutsk Cathedral of All Saints of the Volyn Land, reports the press service of the eparchy.

Archbishop Nathanael of Volyn and Lutsk, who chaired the meeting, thanked the clergy for their selfless faith in the conditions of outright persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The ruling bishop reminded the clergy of the oath of allegiance to the Church of Christ taken before the Throne of God and that confessing faith in purity is a duty for every Orthodox Christian.

The meeting raised questions of the legal security of UOC religious communities, churches and families of the clergy, as the faithful of the canonical Church in many parishes affected by church raiding continue to be subjected to intimidation and pressure.

Also, priests of the Volyn Eparchy discussed other relevant issues of church and parish life, including the importance of obligatory educational conversations and explanations among people who are going to take the Sacraments of the Church of Christ.

At the end of the eparchial meeting, the clergy sang a prayer and asked Archbishop Nathanael for archpastoral blessing for further work for the benefit of the Church of Christ.

We recall that on September 22, in the village of Sadov in the Lutsk district of the Volyn region, OCU supporters attacked the church house where the family of the UOC clergyman resides.

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