Latvia ceases broadcasting church services over commemoration of ROC head
Patriarch Kirill. Photo: nv.ua
The Editorial Board of Latvian Television (LTV) has decided to stop recording and showing new Orthodox services because of mentioning Patriarch Kirill, reports rus.jauns.lv.
According to LTV representatives, during the recording of an Orthodox service at the Riga branch of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Nunnery in Valgunde, it was "revealed that a prayer for Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church was being offered".
"Therefore, a decision has been made to stop broadcasting the particular service and new Orthodox services," LTV said.
LTV Editor-in-Chief Sigita Roķe said, "We categorically condemn Russia's war in Ukraine, so at this time we consider it absolutely unacceptable to continue broadcasting Orthodox services where prayers for Patriarch Kirill can be heard."
Religious services are broadcast under an agreement between LTV and the Ekumēniskais mediju padomes fonds. LTV records and broadcasts religious services of the four largest Christian denominations in Latvia: Lutheran, Catholic, Orthodox and Baptist.
The agreement stipulates that the foundation is responsible for ensuring that the content of the broadcasted services complies with the legal regulations of the Republic of Latvia. LTV received confirmation during a meeting with the foundation following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 that there would be no prayers for Patriarch Kirill in the recorded and broadcast services.
LTV broadcasts services of Latvia's largest Christian denominations every Sunday, as well as ecumenical holiday services on 4 May, 11 and 18 November, Easter and Christmas.
As earlier reported, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church condemned the actions of the head of the Latvian Church.
Read also
In Nigeria, 130 hostages abducted from Catholic school released
The country's authorities reported the release of the last hostages – victims of the attack on the Catholic school.
Zelensky wishes death to Putin in his Christmas message
The presidential address included the phrase "May he parish", said in the context of a Christmas wish.
Hungarian authorities to fund restoration of Serbian Church monastery
The Government of Hungary has allocated funds for the reconstruction of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos Monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Zelensky: All Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on the same date
Volodymyr Zelensky recorded a new video with Christmas greetings.
Instead of Christmas: Zelensky declares January 7 Programmer’s Day
Zelensky decided that January 7 is the most appropriate date for introducing a new holiday.
OCU equates UOC’s losses from “transfers” with losses caused by occupation
In Dumenko’s circle, the losses suffered by the UOC due to so-called “voluntary transfers” to the OCU were equated with losses resulting from occupation and the re-subordination of communities to the Russian Orthodox Church.