Amsterdam: While UOC soldiers defend Ukraine, their churches are seized
Seizure of the church house of the UOC community in Ladyzhyn. Photo: UOJ collage
Many servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who are believers of the UOC, may lose the opportunity to pray in their faith due to the adoption of Bill No. 8371. This was stated in an interview with telejournalist Tucker Carlson by the head of the law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP, Robert Amsterdam.
The UOC lawyer stressed that many of those currently on the front lines are believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
"Many of the men on the frontline are members of our Church who sit there and watch, day by day, as secret police wearing death masks come and steal their religious home. Imagine how they feel knowing that their parents, their families are losing their places of worship?" Bob Amsterdam asked.
In his opinion, if a new bill 7381, effectively banning the UOC, is passed, they will not even be able to gather to pray.
"Because the churches will be taken away from them, but it may even be a crime for them to meet and pray," he noted.
The human rights defender added that "this unlimited attack on the historical Church is unconscionable."
"I am absolutely heart-broken that American Christians have not taken up this fight," concluded the American lawyer.
As the UOJ reported, Robert Amsterdam stated that the UOC is a patriotic Church, its members are fighting on the frontlines.
Read also
Shevchuk tells Budanov of UGCC’s “state-building role”
The head of the Uniates told the head of the Presidential Office that his Church was ready to partner with the state and presented him with a book on the work of special services in the Church.
Authorities decline to disclose Ukraine’s population size
The State Statistics Service acknowledged that it has up-to-date population estimates for the country, but has decided not to make them public.
Lithuanian govt vows to protect Orthodox Church from Russian intelligence
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has called for curbing the influence of Russian intelligence services on the Church, while an adviser to President Nausėda warned against labeling the entire structure a security threat.
During Ramadan, Patriarch Theodoros hosts Islamic iftar at his residence
Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria hosted a meal for Muslim workers breaking their fast in the courtyard of the Patriarchate and thanked a sheikh for his “brotherhood.”
Lawsuit filed against Patriarch of Constantinople
A Turkish official has accused Patriarch Bartholomew and dozens of clergy of “illegal activity” and violating the Treaty of Lausanne.
OCU cleric buried with Church Slavonic funeral shroud
In the Ternopil Eparchy of the OCU, a cleric was buried under a funeral shroud bearing inscriptions in Church Slavonic.