Kyiv Council deputy demands that authorities ban UOC
Igor Miroshnichenko, member of the Political Council of All-Ukrainian Association "Svoboda", deputy of the Kyiv City Council. Photo: screenshot of the video on the Magnolia TV YouTube channel
On May 14, 2020, Igor Miroshnichenko, a member of the Political Council of VO “Svoboda”, a deputy of the Kyiv City Council, demanded that the Ukrainian authorities ban the UOC.
“They (Ukrainian boxers Alexander Usyk and Vasyl Lomachenko – Ed.) say that they are Orthodox, the Russian world, but at the same time go to the Church, which is not canonical, which does not actually practice religion, but which is engaged in propaganda of the Russian world,” said Miroshnichenko on the air of the Magnolia TV channel. “The state should ban the Russian Church (as he called the UOC – Ed.) as a propaganda organization.”
According to the deputy of the City Council, the UOC is both non-religious but at the same time non-canonical structure.
“This is not the Church, this is not a religion. These are propagandists who, pardon me, peddle Ukrainians. This is a non-canonical organization that ignores Orthodox canons, the requirements of the Mother Church, and most importantly, does not recognize the OCU, which became canonical after receiving the Tomos,” Miroshnichenko emphasized.
His interlocutor, journalist and public figure, political prisoner Ruslan Kotsaba, reminded his opponent of the criminal liability for inciting inter-religious hatred, but the latter began to interrupt him and scream.
“I would like to restrain your guest. I respect different points of view, but your guest is now engaged in such activities, which are classified by the Criminal Code of Ukraine <...> As a deputy of the City Council, Kiev, he might know that what he has just calumniated thus inciting religious hatred which is subject to criminal liability,” Kotsaba emphasized.
Earlier, the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary, noted that a real terror was launched against the UOC.
Read also
Patriarchs of Moscow and Serbia concelebrate at Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra
The Patriarchs emphasized the unity and spiritual kinship of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches.
Patriarch Porfirije awarded Honorary Doctorate by Moscow Theological Academy
Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia expressed deep gratitude and humility, calling this award "a sign of our unity in Christ".
Hierarch of the Constantinople Church calls war in Ukraine fratricidal
According to Archbishop Elpidophoros, the war in Ukraine is not a "clash of civilizations" but rather a result of cruel political embitions.
Patriarch of Bulgaria: Orthodoxy grows not by force but by God's grace
Patriarch Daniel drew attention to the rapid spread of the Orthodox faith in countries with Catholic and Protestant traditions.
DESS states at UN: OCU creation strengthened religious freedom in Ukraine
State Service officials said that Ukraine had no problems with observance of religious freedom.
In Sumy, Met Eulogy officiates funeral of deceased military priest of UOC
Priest Oleksiy Kuznetsov, who died saving the lives of his fellow brothers, was buried with military honors at the Alley of Glory in the city cemetery.