UOC bishop on ruined Tithe Church: Millions of believers' feelings are hurt

Metropolitan Theodosiy (Snigirev). Photo: Cherkasy Eparchy

The demolition of the operating memorial temple of the Tithe Monastery in Kyiv is not just a tragic event in the history of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Ukraine as a state – today's authorities have demonstrated their inability to respect religion and once again emphasized that there is no longer religious freedom in Ukraine. This was stated in a commentary by Metropolitan Theodosiy (Snigirev) of the UOC, a human rights activist collaborating with the UN, a member of the International Human Rights Alliance "Church Against Xenophobia and Discrimination".

The hierarch emphasized that although the temple was designated as a temporary structure, and formally the court's decision may be lawful, according to the spirit of international law and based on the content of human rights and principles of religious freedom, the state should have assisted the monastery in obtaining proper documentation.

According to Met. Theodosiy, this is particularly evident given that the temple building was constructed in the city center long ago, and the authorities could not have been unaware of the monastery's lack of full legalization of this property.

"Thus, according to internationally recognized principles of human rights and religious freedom, it is the current authorities of Ukraine who bear responsibility for not assisting the monastery in the documentary registration of rights to the temple building constructed with the tacit consent of the state authorities," the hierarch noted.

In his opinion, today's authorities also bear responsibility for the barbaric demolition of an active religious structure.

This, according to the bishop, "not only once again violated the civil rights of the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church but also offended the religious feelings of millions of believers in Ukraine."

As the UOJ reported, Metropolitan Theodosiy called for bringing flowers to the demolition site of the Tithe Church.

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