Amsterdam: Facts of persecution of UOC are documented in a 250-page report
Robert Amsterdam. Photo: screenshot from twitter.com
On April 3, 2024, American lawyer representing the UOC, Robert Amsterdam, published a video on his network X, once again, in the "strongest possible terms", urged the government "to drop consideration" of bill No. 8371 from the agenda and announced that he would hand over another package of documents to representatives of the Ukrainian government.
In his speech, Amsterdam quoted a statement from the DECR UOC dated March 28 regarding the position of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church regarding the Decree of the WRPC on the "Russian world". He said he would attach it to the documentation he would be handing over to representatives of the Ukrainian government.
The lawyer urged the Ukrainian authorities "to move forward and unify the people, to go back to the rule of law," adding that "collective punishment has no place in a free and democratic society."
"That bill, calling for the destruction of this Church, is nothing more than dressed-up hate speech," he said.
The lawyer also noted that "attacking folllowers of Jesus Christ during the times of war, forcing followers out of their churches, denying people a place to worship is absolutely unforgivable. And the fact that this is now the policy of the Ukrainian government cannot be sanctioned or supported."
Robert Amsterdam stated that he receives questions about evidence of such persecution of clergy and believers of the UOC. In this respect, the human rights defender noted that he had prepared a report on numerous facts of attacks on churches, including attacks on the Lavra and the seminary. This is 250 pages of evidence describing the situation of violations of the rights of UOC believers in Ukraine in just a few months.
Read also
Court sets date for next hearing in Metropolitan Longin's case
Following another session of the Hertsa Court, the UOC hierarch thanked the faithful for their support.
Odesa vicar comments on whether UOC is in talks with Phanar
The Archbishop of Artsyz stated that online publications about his negotiations with Patriarch Bartholomew are a lie.
Region's principal relic, Turkovychi Icon of Theotokos, venerated in Kryvyi Rih
On the feast day of the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Ephrem of Kryvyi Rih led the Divine Liturgy and a religious procession at the cathedral.
OCU announces end of Filaret schism
The OCU Bishops’ Council claimed that “frantic attempts by pro-Russian forces to obstruct reconciliation” between Dumenko and Denysenko had failed.
Dumenko: It is our duty to establish a National Pantheon of Heroes
The OCU head said that almost no graves of Ukraine’s princes and hetmans have survived and called for their remains to be put together in a National Pantheon.
OCU Bishops’ Council calls on Ukraine to join EU
The OCU said that while the EU has many problems, it is free from the heresy of the “Russian world.”