AUCCRO: The authorities want a monastery to operate in the Lavra
AUCCRO in the Verkhovna Rada. Photo: AUCCRO
The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations published on its website a statement following the meeting with the head of the Rada R. Stefanchuk, the head of the State Ethnic Policy V. Yelensky, the Minister of the Interior I. Klymenko and the deputy head of the SBU S. Andrushchenko.
The statement refers to the position of the AUCCRO on “the inadmissibility of the activity in Ukraine of any organizations, including religious ones, whose centers and leadership are located in the Russian Federation”, as well as “the inevitability of punishment for all persons involved in assisting the enemy and treason regardless the denomination and church they belong to and the rank they have."
Regarding the situation around the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the members of the AUCCRO stated that “the state, first of all, protects the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, which consists in the fact that the Lavra functions exactly as an Orthodox monastery open to Ukrainian believers.” However, the AUCCRO did not specify how the expulsion of the monastery from the Lavra contributes to the functioning of the Lavra as a monastery.
The members of the AUCCRO also expressed their conviction that “a high level of freedom of religion is maintained in Ukraine, there are no persecutions on religious grounds, and democratic institutions and procedures remain in effect.”
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the authorities and the AUCCRO agreed to destroy the UOC.
Read also
U.S. House of Representatives passes ban on sex-change surgeries for minors
The lower house of Congress supported an initiative limiting medical interventions that could have irreversible consequences for the health of minors.
Armenian Church to appeal to international bodies over government pressure
The decision was made by the Supreme Spiritual Council in Etchmiadzin against the backdrop of criminal cases, pressure on the clergy, and the state's attempts to interfere in church life.
Pashinyan's supporters attempt to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia
The confrontation around the Armenian Apostolic Church intensified after rebellious hierarchs called for the Catholicos's resignation and attempted to exert forceful pressure in Etchmiadzin.
Persecuted community of Maliatyntsi celebrates first patronal feast after seizure
In Bukovyna, the faithful of the St. Nicholas community in the village of Maliatyntsi celebrated the Feast Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia for the first time after the church seizure.
European authorities downplay scale of Christian persecution, report says
Human rights defenders reported an increase in attacks on believers in the EU and pointed out that official statistics do not reflect the real level of anti-Christian hostility.
Mukachevo Eparchy bishops congratulate orphaned children on St Nicholas Day
Metropolitan Theodore and Bishop Hilarion visited the “New Family” children’s shelter in Uzhhorod.