Law Dept on MIA head's statement: UOC isn't a subsidiary or branch of ROC
Archpriest Alexander Bakhov. Photo: law.church.ua
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is not a subsidiary or a branch of the Russian Orthodox Church and is led by Christ. This is how the head of the UOC Legal Department, Archpriest Alexander Bakhov, commented on an interview with Alexei Reznikov, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, in which he explained why the draft law on state transition policy included renaming the Church.
The priest's comment was published on the website of the UOC Legal Department.
Noting the Deputy Prime Minister's words that "if you do not recognize Ukrainian jurisdiction, you will need to indicate who your immediate supervisor is," the head of the UOC's Legal Department stressed that "some think in terms of business and apply the economic model to church relations", but this approach to church life is wrong.
“The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is not a subsidiary or a branch and does not have economic or financial-administrative relations with the Russian Orthodox Church. Religious organizations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are registered in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine. The founder of the UOC is the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, i.e. bishops, priests and laity living in Ukraine. Its governing bodies are located in Kyiv, and we have Christ as our chief,” Archpriest Alexander Bakhov reminded.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the bill on the state policy of the transition period in the de-occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea duplicated the provisions of the scandalous law on the forced renaming of the Church, which is currently under consideration in the Constitutional Court.
Read also
Norway to ban social media for under-16s
Norwegian authorities intend to require social media platforms to verify users’ ages and ban access for children under 16 in order to safeguard their mental health.
Pashinyan calls on Armenian Church to reform and replace Catholicos
Armenia’s prime minister spoke of taxes for the Armenian Church, accused it of politicization, and proposed reforms, including replacing the Catholicos and increasing state oversight.
DESS registers "Ukrainian Interchurch Council"
The association has received official status and called for protecting the constitutional status of the family from Supreme Court rulings.
Conspiracy by archbishop and mayor against Met Tychikos exposed in Cyprus
The acting mayor of Paphos has testified to police that Archbishop Georgios instructed the former mayor to publicly smear the hierarch in order to conceal financial dealings worth millions of euros.
TRC abducts Archimandrite Rufin, monk of Odesa monastery
The clergyman was reportedly pulled out of a taxi in Odesa and taken to a training center near Kharkiv, where he is said to be now.
Surge in pilgrim numbers recorded on Mount Athos, administrator says
Amid wars and global instability, the number of pilgrims visiting Mount Athos has risen to as many as 1,500 per day, placing strain on monasteries and infrastructure.