Law Dept: There’s a risk that UOC believers won’t be able to serve in the army
Priest of the UOC with the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Photo: ukraine2day.com
Archpriest Alexander Bakhov, head of the Legal Department of the UOC, said that the forced renaming of the Church is illegal, but commented on the possibility of applying the law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations" in relation to the canonical Church. He spoke about this during the press conference “Results of the UOC in 2022”, which takes place on December 29 in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
“I would like to draw attention to one essential detail: suppose that this law is applied to the UOC. This law contains a provision that prohibits clergy, preachers and other representatives of the UOC from accessing the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations. Therefore, the majority of citizens of Ukraine will not be able to fulfill their constitutional obligations in this case,” said the head of the Legal Department of the UOC.
As the UOJ reported, Archpriest Alexander emphasized that by outlawing the UOC, some politicians believe that they are at war with Russia, but in fact they are at war with the Ukrainian people.
Read also
In Pasika, Transcarpathia, priest defects to OCU while community remains in UOC
In the village of Paseka in Transcarpathia, believers discussed the future fate of their church.
In Sumy, Presentation Church of UOC damaged by shelling
In the Sumy Eparchy, the walls and fence of the Presentation Church were damaged as a result of shelling, but divine services continue.
Ukraine loses almost 98% of cases at European Court of Human Rights
According to the ECtHR’s 2025 report, nearly all complaints against Ukraine end with findings of human rights violations.
UOC Chancellor on Kyiv Council decision targeting UOC: Obvious lawlessness
Metropolitan Anthony said the document adopted by the Kyiv Regional Council violates the Constitution, interferes with freedom of religion, and exceeds the body’s authority.
In Finland, Constantinopolitan Church hierarch convicted of fraud
A Finnish court found the former archbishop of the Constantinople Patriarchate guilty of manipulating state subsidies and committing financial violations.
His Beatitude: Pure faith is the only path to soul salvation
On the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the Primate of the UOC urged the faithful not to tailor faith to human reasoning and passions, and reminded them of the significance of the Ecumenical Councils.