Yelensky assures that UOC ban will not violate believers’ rights

Viktor Yelensky believes that the destruction of the UOC will not affect its believers in any way. Photo: "Suspilne"

The head of the State Ethnopolitics Service, Viktor Yelensky, assured on the air of Svoboda Live that the adoption of the bill banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church would not affect the rights of its believers.

According to him, the law "pursues the goal to stop the influence on Ukrainians of the Moscow Patriarchate".

"We are talking about stopping this influence, about dismantling the structures of the Moscow Patriarchate. But in no case is it about people who previously belonged to this Church being unable to practice their faith and express their religious feelings in a dignified way," said Viktor Yelensky. Yelensky did not explain how exactly the parishioners of the UOC will be able to practice their faith if the authorities intend to close their churches (or forcibly transfer them to the OCU).

Read also

Court to choose preventive measure for Met. Arseniy in Dnipro on December 5

The prosecutor demands that the detention of the UOC hierarch be extended.

Khmelnytskyi Eparchy delivers 20 tons of food to Kyiv Theological Schools

Believers of the UOC eparchy collected vegetables, grains, and oil for KDAiS students.

Pashinyan forbids priests to mention Armenian Church head during services

The Prime Minister of Armenia publicly confirmed that state structures demand that Catholicos Karekin II be not commemorated during services attended by the politician.

Pope and Slovak President discuss consequences of war in Ukraine for Europe

During the meeting, the Pontiff and the Slovak President discussed the international situation, with particular attention to the war in Ukraine.

UOC monastery in Kniazhychi faces imminent takeover – lawyer

A UOC lawyer has reported a risk of the forcible eviction of the brethren of the Transfiguration Monastery on the morning of December 5.

Orthodox Church in Czech Republic faces threat of losing special rights

The Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic has initiated administrative proceedings against the Church amid the bankruptcy of the Prague Diocese.