UOC hierach on UOC “ban”: We pray for those who spit in our faces

Archbishop Pymen. Photo: a screenshot of YouTube channel ‘Archbishop Pymen’
On April 10, 2023, Archbishop Pymen of Rivne and Ostroh commented on the decision of the Rivne Regional Council to "ban" the Church.
According to the archbishop, this "ban" means for our Church that "Holy Week, the most important week of the whole year, has begun," and "we are ascending to Calvary together with Christ".
"We have learned nothing new here, it's all been there. Today the mothers of our fallen fighters were spitted in the face, today the son of the fighter we buried the day before yesterday was called an idiot, a monster," said Archbishop Pymen.
"What do we plan to do? Trust in God, pray, and first of all for all the deputies who spit in the face of mothers whose sons have died. We will pray for them because Christ taught us to do so. He said, what good is it if you love the one who loves you, you will love the one who does not love you," stressed the hierarch.
The hierarch believes that the law-governed state of Ukraine has been destroyed by such decisions and it must now be built from scratch.
"I am forced to state that the law, the truth of state governance is dead, it does not exist, it has been destroyed. We need to start from scratch to build a state based on the rule of law that wants to join the EU," he concluded.
As earlier reported, members of the Rivne City Council confiscated land plots under churches from the UOC.
Read also
SBU told Phanar many UOC bishops would join OCU in 2018, report says
According to a Phanar representative’s account, Ukrainian security services told the Constantinople delegation that many UOC representatives were prepared to attend the OCU’s “Unification Council.” In the end, only two did.
Catholic cardinal visits Ukrainian POWs during trip to Russia
During three days of consultations in Moscow, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi discussed prospects for ending the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainians help restore Serbian Orthodox church in Paris
Orthodox Ukrainians have become regular parishioners of St. Sava Church in Paris and have taken part in its restoration.
Bulgarian Church clergy and laity oppose Phanar head’s visit
More than 2,000 clergy and laity have called for the Ecumenical Patriarch’s visit to be canceled, citing disagreement with his actions and concerns that the visit could legitimize schism.
Unknown intruders break down doors at two UOC churches in Sloviansk
Archbishop Paisiy said OCU activists are suspected of breaking into the churches in Sloviansk, and police have launched an investigation.
Sviatohirsk Lavra prays for murdered monk on 40th day after death
The brethren of the Sviatohirsk Lavra held a memorial service for murdered Monk Varsonofiy, calling on the faithful to pray for the newly departed monk.