Shevchuk is "worried" about the possibility of banning UOC
Head of the UGCC Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Photo: radiosvoboda.org
Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the UGCC, has said that he is "worried" about the possible ban of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as it is not just a "legal organisation", but first and foremost people. He said this in an interview with Il Foglio, published on the UGCC website.
Shevchuk said that when communicating with representatives of the authorities, he repeatedly "emphasised the fundamental basis of the Churches-state relationship".
According to him, the state should approach religious issues with great sensitivity but should also "guarantee its national security".
Shevchuk also believes that the UOC "isolated itself from society" because it celebrated Christmas on 7 January, not 25 December, as the government did.
"Certain measures taken by the Ukrainian authorities against the Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate reflect the request of Ukrainian civil society," he added.
As reported, the head of the Phanar led the Christmas service in the "Russian" community in Istanbul.
Read also
"Parishioners" brought to Lavra by buses on Epifaniy's name day, media
People from different regions were brought in an organized manner to the "service" of the head of the OCU at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Yermak consults fortune teller before important appointments, prosecutor says
Private correspondence with a fortune teller was found with the former head of the President's Office, in which he coordinated personnel decisions.
SBU searches home of Metropolitan Longin’s daughter
Law enforcement officers detained the hierarch's son-in-law, who has many children, and refused to allow a lawyer to participate in investigative actions at the family's private home.
Vienna hosts regional congress of Ukrainian Orthodox youth
Youth from seven European countries discussed the spiritual foundations of democracy and prayed for peace in Ukraine before a particle of the Life-Giving Cross.
Persecuted UOC community in Zadubrivka celebrates patronal feast
The faithful celebrated the Liturgy in a house church and held a water-blessing service at the site where a new church in honor of Venerable Amphilochius of Pochaiv is being built.
Thousands of faithful gather at Pochaiv Lavra for feast of St Amphilochius
The pilgrimage to the relics of Venerable Amphilochius of Pochaiv on his feast day is a long-standing tradition of the UOC.