UOC hierarch: "Bans" on UOC by local authorities are initiated by Kyiv
Metropolitan Theodosy. Photo: website of the Cherkasy Eparchy
The initiatives to “ban” the UOC by the city, regional and district councils were sent to local deputies from Kyiv,” said Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy in a video message posted on the YouTube channel of the diocese.
“They are given from Kyiv,” says the bishop. “Someone resisted, someone made the decision without resistance.”
According to him, deputies came to the representatives of the UOC and asked them not to worry, saying that these decisions have no legal force.
“We are under pressure,” they said. We will vote like that, don’t be offended by us,” Metropolitan Theodosy conveyed the words of the deputies.
According to the hierarch, this was done to shape public opinion.
“We already understood and knew why this was being done. To say later – look, this is the society’s demand,” says the bishop. This is actually what they say now – look, this is the society’s demand, 80% of city and regional councils voted to ban the UOC. Why not now vote for this ban in the Verkhovna Rada as well?”
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the SBU urges to sign an appeal to His Beatitude.
Read also
Migration Policy Office: Ukraine's population drops by 800,000 in one year
Migration Policy Office head Vasyl Voskoboinyk said deaths in Ukraine outnumber births by 3.5 to one.
UOC hierarch attends Georgian PM’s meeting with church delegations
Metropolitan Sergiy of Ternopil attended a meeting between Georgia’s prime minister and the heads of Church delegations visiting for a symposium marking 1,700 years since Christianity became the state religion.
OCU, Uniates and Protestants hold ecumenical prayer service on Khortytsia
OCU, Greek Catholic and Protestant chaplains held a joint ecumenical prayer service at the Zaporizhzhian Sich to mark Chaplain's Day.
Poland holds anti-UPA, anti-Bandera rally after Catholic priest’s murder
Protesters in the Polish city of Jarosław demanded an end to its partnership with the Ukrainian city of Skole and spoke out against the UPA.
TRC officers abduct UOC church rector in Vilniansk
Enlistment officers detained the rector of a UOC church damaged by shelling and are denying lawyers access to defend the priest’s rights.
Lavra lawyer calls for support ahead of new court hearing
Lawyer Nikita Chekman has called for prayers and support ahead of an October 15 court hearing in Kyiv concerning the Upper Lavra.