Archbishop Viсtor: UOC-banning laws is an obstacle to European integration
Bishop Victor (Kotsaba). Photo: politica.com.ua
Vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis Archbishop Victor (Kotsaba) said that the laws banning the UOC will become an obstacle to European integration, politica.com.ua reports.
According to him, these laws will be successfully challenged in international institutions.
“Now the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is preparing to consider 4 bills aimed at restricting the rights of believers and liquidating the UOC. Although they do not directly mention the UOC, the accompanying documents to the bills show the opposite. Their content is striking in the level of legal nihilism and inconsistency with the principles of international law. For example, a bill submitted by MP N. Kniazhytsky from Eurosolidarity proposes to monopolize the word ‘Orthodox’ for the OCU and not to use it in the title without its permission. That is, if you have not received permission or do not belong to the OCU, you will not have the right to call yourself Orthodox,” said the hierarch of the UOC.
“Of course, such legislative initiatives will not have support in the respected international community, they will be successfully challenged in international institutions and will become a significant obstacle to European integration,” he added.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the hierarch of the UOC said it is impossible to combine the prosperity of Ukraine with the ban on the Church.
Read also
Serbian Patriarch offers condolences over murder of Sviatohirsk Lavra monk
The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church called Sviatohirsk Lavra a refuge for the displaced and urged that the monk’s violent death not be turned into anyone’s weapon.
“Never seen before”: Israel reports record number of Hasidim in Uman
According to an Israeli police representative, 52,000 pilgrims are currently in Uman – 10,000 more than last year. The city itself has a population of about 75,000.
UOC faithful hold prayer vigil outside Lavra for more than 1,000 days
For three and a half years, Orthodox Christians have continued praying for peace and for the preservation of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Zelensky congratulates Jews on Rosh Hashanah
Volodymyr Zelensky wished Jews peace and the triumph of good over evil.
Kyiv Theological Academy publishes book on Orthodoxy in 17th-century Ukraine
With the blessing of the UOC Primate, the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary has published a textbook marking the 430th anniversary of the birth of St. Petro Mohyla.