UOC Legal Department on Chernivtsi incident: Is pilgrimage a crime now?
Detention of pilgrims who were on their way to Pochaiv. Photo: screenshot of video facebook.com/orthobuk
The head of the UOC Legal Department, Archpriest Oleksandr Bakhov, commenting on the incident in Chernivtsi, said that the police actions "were illegal and violated not only the right to freedom of religion but also the right to movement," reports the UOC Telegram channel.
"Unequivocally, such actions of law enforcement agencies are illegal and violate not only the right to freedom of religion but also the right to movement. The latter, by the way, in the western regions, today even under martial law is not restricted," said the head of the UOC Legal Department, Archpriest Oleksandr Bakhov.
"The authorities of the Chernivtsi region sent the entire police force to prevent the faithful from going on pilgrimage to Pochaiv. Is a trip to pray to the shrine today considered a crime?" he added.
On March 24, 2023, in the Chernivtsi region, police stopped two buses with people who were going on a pilgrimage to the Pochaiv Lavra.
As reported earlier, the believers, who were not allowed to go to Pochaiv, said they would go on a hunger strike.
Read also
In Khmelnytsky Oblast, the TCC abducted the rector of the community in Sutkovtsi
Archpriest Volodymyr Stefanyshyn is already at the training ground.
Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.
UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials
Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.
Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action
An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.
European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan
The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.
Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region
The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.