UOC hierarch: Anti-church laws are adopted to legalize raiding
Archbishop Nikolai (Pochtovy) with Yan Taksur in the "Right to Faith" program. Photo: screenshot/YouTube-channel "First Cossack"
New anti-church laws are being adopted to deprive the UOC of the opportunity to defend its rights and to legalize the seizure of churches and communities of the canonical Church by schismatics, Archbishop Nikolai of Vasilkov noted in an interview with the First Cossack Channel.
The anti-church laws that were initiated under Poroshenko and are being promoted now on the pursuit of one goal – to legitimize the illegal actions of the authorities and the OCU against the UOC, Vladyka Nikolai believes.
According to the hierarch, now the believers of the UOC are successfully trying to defend themselves in the courts.
“In the current legislative field, we are prospectively winning all the courts,” he said.
Consequently, some laws need to be adopted so that we are deprived of such an opportunity – to legally defend our rights. If the laws are changed, then we will lose such an opportunity."
The hierarch noted that the anti-church laws that are going to be adopted are anti-constitutional.
“Their essence is the same, no-brainer – to legalize lawlessness,” he assures.
As reported by the UOJ, the spokesman of the UOC said that the new anti-church law would result in the Servant of the People losing power.
Read also
In Pasika, Transcarpathia, priest defects to OCU while community remains in UOC
In the village of Paseka in Transcarpathia, believers discussed the future fate of their church.
In Sumy, Presentation Church of UOC damaged by shelling
In the Sumy Eparchy, the walls and fence of the Presentation Church were damaged as a result of shelling, but divine services continue.
Ukraine loses almost 98% of cases at European Court of Human Rights
According to the ECtHR’s 2025 report, nearly all complaints against Ukraine end with findings of human rights violations.
UOC Chancellor on Kyiv Council decision targeting UOC: Obvious lawlessness
Metropolitan Anthony said the document adopted by the Kyiv Regional Council violates the Constitution, interferes with freedom of religion, and exceeds the body’s authority.
In Finland, Constantinopolitan Church hierarch convicted of fraud
A Finnish court found the former archbishop of the Constantinople Patriarchate guilty of manipulating state subsidies and committing financial violations.
His Beatitude: Pure faith is the only path to soul salvation
On the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the Primate of the UOC urged the faithful not to tailor faith to human reasoning and passions, and reminded them of the significance of the Ecumenical Councils.