Source: Shmygal nails down transfer of UOC temples to OCU with Phanar head
Denis Shmygal and Patriarch Bartholomew during the service in Phanar. Photo: kmu.gov.ua
During the meeting of Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal with Patriarch Bartholomew, which took place in Istanbul on November 30, 2020, the Ukrainian official pledged full support for the OCU and said Kyiv is ready to start implementing a relevant plan," a source in the government head's entourage told the UOJ.
The plan provides for the "transfer" of temples and parishes of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the OCU, as well as the full range of administrative support for this structure by the state. According to the source, Denis Shmygal told Patriarch Bartholomew he would personally oversee these activities.
The key executor of this work will be the head of the newly created Department of Ethnic and Religious Policy at the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers, Andrei Yurash, who through his son, an MP from the "Servant of the People" Sviatoslav Yurash, intends to push through the Verkhovna Rada legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening the position of the OCU.
Also, the source of the UOJ claims that Vladimir Zelensky will distance himself from these activities, as he fears damage to his electoral initiatives.
Earlier, Denis Shmygal said that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is a reliable partner of the state and can enjoy full legal and economic support.
Read also
Feminists attack Roman Catholic churches in Latin America
During protest actions, members of radical groups attacked cathedrals in several Latin American countries, assaulted police officers, and threw paint at believers.
UOC hierarch takes part in German bishops’ conference
Bishop Veniamin of Boyarka took part in the OBKD assembly in Düsseldorf.
Ivano-Frankivsk scraps school project planned on demolished UOC church site
The authorities in Ivano-Frankivsk have dropped plans to build the school for whose construction a UOC church was demolished.
Shostatsky to UOC: If you are so righteous – do not cling to your churches
The OCU metropolitan called on UOC faithful and clergy to pray rather than defend their churches from seizures.
Archbishop John: The Church is not a special group – it is open to everyone
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania explained why the Church cannot shut itself off from people and what danger arises when believers begin to feel that it is “ours.”
Shostatsky: We have a real personnel shortage in the OCU
Metropolitan Simeon (Shostatsky) said that OCU clerics have to travel to as many as five parishes over a weekend so that believers are not left without services.