Metropolitan Anthony gives the number of seized churches of UOC
Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary. Photo: glavcom.ua
The UOC Сhancellor, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, called the information about the “transfer” of 600 communities to the OCU a manipulation and said that only 84 communities voluntarily left the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
As Metropolitan Anthony said in an interview with “Glavkom”, 28 out of 84 communities shifted to the OCU without a rector, 56 with a rector, and another 122 churches were seized by OCU representatives through raiding. In addition, 220 communities were illegally re-registered to the OCU by the local authorities.
“We did not expect that this could be in a democratic state,” the bishop noted. “There are secret re-registrations when a UOC parish does not know anything while local authorities re-register communities. And there are 220 such parishes.”
The UOC Chancellor said that the Legal Department of the Church is currently operating a hotline, which daily receives updated information from all parishes of the UOC.
“I am talking about real data that we operate. 220 is an illegal re-registration, and in most of them, we have litigation. We believe that there has been a violation of both the Constitution and the legislation of Ukraine,” the hierarch emphasized.
As reported earlier, in connection with the violation of the rights of believers of the UOC in 2019, 150 trials took place and 250 court proceedings were initiated.
Read also
Vance: Death is a bad thing, but losing your soul is much more terrible
"The fundamental tenant of the Christian faith is that the Son of God became man, He died and then He raised Himself from the dead," the U.S. Vice President reminded Americans.
Expert: The demographic situation is a national catastrophe for Ukraine
Analyst Oleksii Kusch warns that the country's population is shrinking at a catastrophic rate, yet Ukrainians do not see it as a problem.
Looters rob and desecrate a UOC church in Myrnohrad, Donbas
The thieves stole bells and a chandelier after breaking down the church doors.
TRC abducts a priest of UOC's Ovruch Eparchy
Father Pavlo Kushnirchuk has not been in contact with his family.
Cherkasy mayor accuses UOC of stealing Kazan Icon, previously stolen by OCU
Anatoliy Bondarenko called on Metropolitan Theodosiy to return the Kazan Icon, which had previously been stolen by OCU activists during the seizure and looting of St. Michael's Cathedral.
Congresswoman: Zelensky persecutes the Church
Victoria Spartz criticized President Zelensky for persecuting the Church and media control.