UOC spokesman: Why are our pilgrimages a threat, while others are not?

Archpriest Mykola Danilevych. Photo: news.church.ua

Under fabricated pretexts, the authorities prohibit processions of UOC believers, while at the same time, they do not hinder mass gatherings and processions of representatives of other denominations. Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC Archpriest Mykola Danilevych wrote about this on his Telegram channel, commenting on the statement by the head of the Rivne Regional State Administration about the prohibition of the procession "due to the threat to state security".

"The head of the Rivne Regional State Administration justifies the ban on processions by the 'threat to state security,'" the priest noted. "Could someone explain to me how a few hundred people who walk and pray can pose a threat to state security? And why do they see this as a 'threat' in the Rivne region, but not in the Galician regions where, according to my superficial calculations, there have been about 11 pilgrimages and processions of Christians from other denominations since the beginning of the year? Or do we not live in the same country?"

The spokesperson for the UOC added: "Obviously, in conditions of war, these restrictive measures are justified, but to the same extent for all denominations and regions."

As reported, the authorities of the Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytsia regions banned traditional religious processions of UOC believers to the Pochaiv Lavra.

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