AUCCRO assures WCC there is "no religious persecution" in Ukraine
A meeting of the AUCCRO and the WCC. Photo: vrciro.ua
On May 11, 2023, during a meeting of members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO) with a delegation of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Kyiv, Bishop Viacheslav Horpinchuk, head of the AUCCRO, assured the WCC that there is no religious persecution in Ukraine, reports the AUCCRO press service.
"In Ukraine, freedom of religion is respected and there is no persecution on religious grounds during the war. However, the situation of believers in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia as a result of armed aggression remains extremely dangerous. Terrorism of civilians, especially religious leaders, is a common tactic of intimidation and subjugation of the Russian occupying power. We hope that the voice of the WCC will also be raised in the world in defence of believers who suffer daily because of the presence of Russian occupiers in the Ukrainian land," stressed Viacheslav Horpinchuk.
The AUCCRO members "thanked the WCC for its support of Ukraine, including in countering Russian propaganda that distorts facts and justifies Russia's brutal war against Ukrainian civilians".
The WCC delegation is visiting Ukraine from May 10 to 13. In addition to meeting with AUCCRO members, the foreign religious leaders held separate meetings with representatives of the UOC and the OCU.
As earlier reported, the UOC Chancellor told the World Council of Churches about discrimination against the Church.
Read also
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.
Archimandrite Ioustinos, longtime keeper of Jacob's Well, dies in Jordan
Archimandrite Ioustinos (Mamallos), the keeper of Jacob's Well in Nablus, has died after a prolonged illness.
Pilgrim group from Kyiv Theological Seminary visits Mount Athos
KTS students are making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Romania, Greece, Mount Athos and Italy.
UOC cathedral celebrates its patronal feast in Ternopil
The service in the cathedral of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia was led by Metropolitan Serhii of Ternopil, concelebrated by four hierarchs.
MinCulture marks centenary of Soviet-era reserve at Lavra's Refectory Church
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture presented awards to the Reserve's employees on the occasion of the anniversary at the Refectory Church of the Lavra.
Conference to mark 1700th anniversary of Christianity adoption held in Georgia
In Georgia, representatives of the Church and the state noted the defining role of Christianity in the country's cultural development.