OCU priest calls on parishioners to press the authorities to ban UOC

Roman Hryschuk. Photo: Hryshchuk's Facebook

A cleric and a chaplain of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Roman Hryshchuk, has called on parishioners to exert pressure on the authorities to enforce a "real ban" on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which he wrote about on his Facebook page.

Hryshchuk believes that priests from the UOC will not voluntarily join the OCU, even if this religious structure is recognized by five more Local Churches.

"In practice, in our reality, the salvation of drowning people is solely in the hands of the drowning themselves! The duty of each community to its warriors and to future generations is to withdraw its temple from Moscow's occupation! Preferably with a priest! If not – then without!" he wrote.

The OCU chaplain calls for pressure on the authorities for a real ban on the UOC.

"Otherwise, you will go down the spiral again! Like 100 years ago, and like in 1954, and like in the 90s, and like after 2005, and like after 2014..." Hryshchuk fears.

As reported by the UOJ, on February 11, 2024, the controversial OCU chaplain Roman Hryshchuk organized a meeting at the House of Culture in the village of Staryi Vovchynets to transfer the UOC's Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church to Dumenko. Since the meeting failed, Hryshchuk announced on his Facebook page that it was a "prayer service for Ukraine".

Read also

Constantinople hierarch: We hope the ROC helps bring one Church in Ukraine

The Metropolitan of Chalcedon said that the Church of Constantinople is hoping for the ROC's good will for dialogue on the Ukrainian issue.

Suspended bishop files a lawsuit against the Church in Armenia

The lawsuit by a hierarch banned from serving against the leadership of the Armenian Church is the first such case in modern Armenia, where the Church is separated from the state.

Bosnia’s Interreligious Council speaks out against creating “Bosnian Church”

The Interreligious Council of Bosnia rejected an attempt to form a separate religious structure outside the canonical jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Germany sends €63 million to international abortion organizations – media

Despite official statements, German authorities allocated tens of millions of euros in 2022–2025 to organizations promoting abortion abroad.

Pashinyan says Catholicos’ activities threaten Armenia’s security

At a briefing in Yerevan, Armenia’s head of government said the Catholicos poses a threat to the state.

Dumenko: Russian shelling only underscores the “canonical” status of the OCU

Serhiy Dumenko assured that the OCU “opposes discord by seeking accord, peace, and unity.”