Catholicos of All Armenians criticizes UOC ban

His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians

His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians has criticised the Ukrainian authorities for adopting a bill on banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, TASS reports.

The Catholicos said that the Armenian Church learnt with concern about the actions of the Verkhovna Rada to ban the UOC.

"The bill on the activities of religious organisations with its provisions will create new undesirable sentiments among believers and will become a reason for neglecting the traditional and sacred church-legal canons of the Church of Christ, as well as violating the unity and harmony of spiritual life in the Orthodox Church," Karekin II said.

He expressed hope that the parliamentarians "will act with awareness of the sanctity of the faith... and with respect for the centuries-old traditions of the Church".

"According to our deep conviction, especially during these difficult trials, it is necessary to keep the Church aside from political processes and not turn the religious factor into an opportunity to sow speculation and contradictions," the Catholicos added.

As reported, MEPs appealed to the EU because of the persecution of the UOC.

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