Political expert on UOC: Destruction of the faith under fabricated pretexts

Checking documents in Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: Radio Liberty

Political expert and historian Kostiantyn Bondarenko has highlighted the situation surrounding the UOC in Ukraine in an interview with Alexander Shelest. He noted that the trend towards expropriating churches from believers into state ownership is "blessed" by the current authorities, who have embarked on a path towards the destruction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Bondarenko underscored that despite nobody questioning the canonical status of the UOC, a narrative about its non-canonicity has been concocted, indicating the destruction of an entire denomination contrary to the Constitution of Ukraine and under fabricated pretexts. The political analyst noted that a whole campaign is underway in the state against the UOC, involving "media stooges" who are now raising a hue and cry and beginning to stigmatize politicians, church hierarchs, and anyone standing in defense of the Church.

He pointed out that not only the current fighters against the UOC will be ashamed of this situation later but also their children and grandchildren. The historian advised the persecutors of the Church to watch T. Abuladze's film "Repentance".

As reported by the UOJ, earlier, political expert and historian Kost Bondarenko, when asked about the likelihood of a complete ban on the UOC, stated that the pogroms and arrests in the "Union of Orthodox Journalists" show that the authorities are committed to fairly radical actions.

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