Poroshenko about repressions against UOC: I welcome such actions of SBU

Former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and OCU Archbishop Hilarion. Photo: eurosolidarity.org

The fifth president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, positively assessed the assistance of the special services in the forced transfer of the temples of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the OCU.

“We welcome the actions of the SBU, which, finally, after three years of leadership change, no longer prevents the transition of parishes to the OCU, and sometimes even holds collaborators and the fifth column to account,” he said during a visit to the Holy Intercession Cathedral in Rivne.

The ex-president noted that it was he who initiated the current processes when he signed the law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations” in 2019. And now he is delighted about the the OCU people serving in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

“The first Christmas service of Primate Epifaniy (Serhiy Dumenko – Ed.) was held in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra,” his press service quotes the politician. “On the 19th of January, the second service in the Ukrainian language will finally take place in the Lavra on the feast of Epiphany. These are all driving forces for changes. But this is just the beginning."

As the UOJ reported, Petro Poroshenko proposed that the UOC and the OCU unite, but under certain conditions.

Read also

Prosecutors stall cases against defenders of UOC cathedral in Cherkasy

Fabricated cases against defenders of the UOC’s St. Michael Cathedral in Cherkasy are falling apart.

24 UOC parish choirs perform hymn honoring the Mother of God

Faithful from various UOC eparchies in Ukraine and abroad, as well as the choir of the Kyiv Theological Academy, took part in the production of the video “They Run to Pochaiv.”