Human rights defender: Govt wages religious war while Putin tearing Ukraine

Human rights defender Mykhailo Chaplyha. Photo: antikor.com.ua

Human rights defender Mykhailo Chaplyha. Photo: antikor.com.ua

Ukrainian human rights defender Mykhailo Chaplyha wrote on his Telegram channel that the authorities started a religious war by initiating a ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is "tearing Ukraine apart".

Chaplyha urged the Ukrainian authorities not to ban the UOC, as this, according to him, is a terrible mistake.

In addition, the human rights activist noted that if a religion can be banned for the crimes of its representatives, it means that the authorities and entire nationalities can be banned, as there are many criminals there too.

"There is no spiritual or legal connection (between – Ed.) the UOC and the ROC. The Bureau of Linguistic Expertise will draw whatever you want, but how will you look God in the eye? ...> There is no "MP" and there never was. It is a journalistic propaganda cliché. By our Lord, please, do not do this," he wrote.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada collected the required number of signatures for the UOC ban.

Earlier, Oleksiy Arestovych said that the USA considered the Ukrainian authorities' attacks on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church unacceptable.

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.