Hierarch of Jerusalem Church calls to pray for persecuted believers of UOC

Metropolitan Timothy (Margaritis) of Vostra. Photo: news.church.ua

All Orthodox Christians should pray earnestly that the Lord would further strengthen the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in their salvific feat. The hierarch of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church, the Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher in Cyprus, Metropolitan Timothy (Margaritis) of Vostra said it after watching the film "Faithful: Hymn of Love", which tells about the fate of believers in the villages of Butyn and Kinakhivtsy, who were able to retain love for each other and to their offenders despite the fact that two churches had been taken away from them.

In a commentary published by the MP DECR on Sunday, March 14, Metropolitan Timothy noted that "those believers who stayed adamantly loyal to their Mother Church during the persecutions are worthy of praise."

“The Lord rewarded them for their patience, and a lot of new temples were built in Ukraine, where believers continue to pray for the enlightment of the deluded so that the Lord would return them to the true path of faith and harmony and vouchsafe them all to be one Body of Christ.

All of us, Orthodox Christians, also need to fervently pray to the Lord so that He further strengthens them in their saving feat,” emphasized the hierarch of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Metropolitan Timothy (Margaritis) of Vostra condemned the acts of violence committed by the OCU in Ukraine, stressing that such actions serve the interests of the enemies of the Orthodox Church and deepen the schism.

Read also

Most Britons oppose abortions, poll finds

The survey found that 62% of UK residents support legal protection for unborn children from the moment their heartbeat is first detected.

Annual academic conference opens at Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary

The fifteenth annual conference was dedicated to the anniversaries of Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrožský and Metropolitan Rafail (Zaborovský).

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.