In Slovakia, a campaign is held in support of the UOC
A protest action in Bratislava in support of the UOC. Photo: a video screenshot from KozakTv1
In the Slovak capital, Bratislava, a protest action took place at the Ukrainian embassy against the persecution of the UOC by the Ukrainian authorities, reports KozakTv1.
The protest was organized by Ukrainian refugees and immigrants, parishioners St. Rostislav’s and St. Nicholas’s Cathedrals. The action was also supported by the priests and laity of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.
"We call on the leadership of foreign countries to compel Volodymyr Zelensky and all opponents of Orthodoxy in the Ukrainian leadership to stop persecuting the UOC and inciting interfaith enmity.
Return the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and all the shrines seized by nationalists and schismatics to the UOC," the defenders of the UOC urged at the rally.
They also drew attention to the pre-election promises of President Zelensky and demanded the release from detention of the Sviatohirsk Lavra abbot, Metropolitan Arseniy, and Orthodox journalists, among whom are UOJ employees: Valeriy Stupnitsky, Andriy Ovcharenko, Volodymyr Bobechko.
The first action took place on May 9, and the participants of the rally called on the country's Prime Minister Robert Fico (who had not yet been the target of an assassination attempt at that time) to contribute to the defence of the UOC faithful. Defenders of the UOC intend to repeat their actions.
Read also
Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer
In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.
Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova
Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".
Bancheny Monastery reports provocation
The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.
Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine
On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.
Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution
At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.
Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession
The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.