AFU servicewoman to the President: Immediately stop persecution of the UOC
Orthodox medic soldier at the forefront. Photo: Telegram channel “MDefenders of Ukraine”
On December 6, 2022, a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a military doctor, appealed to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a demand to stop the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The appeal was posted by the Telegram channel “MDefenders of Ukraine”.
“I watch with pain in my heart lawlessness being committed amid the warfare – the persecution of our faith,” said a female soldier on the front line. She introduced herself as "a junior sergeant, a combat medic and an Orthodox Christian", a parishioner of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Chernivtsi diocese.
The servicewoman spoke sharply about the actions of the SBU and demanded that those responsible for the lawless searches be punished. “I was very offended by the recent searches in the Bukovyna diocese, at Vladyka Meletiy’s and Archimandrite Nikita’s,” she said. The medic recalled that in the very first days of the war, the Bancheny monastery alone received more than five thousand refugees, and the Chernivtsi diocese sent hundreds of thousands of tons of humanitarian aid to the soldiers on the front lines.
“If conscience and truth matter to you, sort it out, conduct an official investigation, and you will see that all this is a blatant lie. These SBU people need to be punished,” the servicewoman urged the President. According to her, the persecution of the Church is the persecution of true patriots. By persecuting the UOC, the President makes a mistake.
“Take action, do not persecute our faith. You are very much mistaken. Because if you don’t, we will end this war, we will return and we will deal with it in a legal way,” the doctor promised.
The servicewoman emphasized that "owing to the prayers of the UOC priests and bishops, Ukraine is not torn apart yet."
“Stop persecuting us, restore justice,” the doctor called.
As the UOJ wrote, the soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine asked the authorities to stop the persecution of the canonical Church of Ukraine.
Read also
Met. Varsonofiy сelebrates Liturgy at persecuted UOC parish in Stryzhavka
A UOC hierarch officiated the Nativity service and offered prayers for peace in Ukraine.
Seized Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr transferred from UOC to OCU control
Huz stated that after being handed to the OCU, the Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr will be “Ukrainian and alive”.
In Brussels, Cardinal Parolin urges Europe to remember its Christian roots
The Vatican Secretary of State spoke at the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula on the occasion of its eight-hundredth anniversary and recalled Europe’s spiritual mission.
388 mln Christians face persecution and discrimination over faith – report
The organization Portes Ouvertes has published research findings concluding that pressure on believers worldwide has intensified.
Archbishop of Albania: Orthodoxy is a key pillar of Albania’s European path
During a visit to Brussels, the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church underscored the importance of Orthodoxy for the country’s integration into the EU and for maintaining interreligious balance in society.
His Beatitude leads divine service at Lavra on Circumcision of the Lord feast
During the festive service at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, special prayers were offered for peace on the Ukrainian land and for God’s blessing upon the new year.