Government adopts amendments to Chaplaincy Law
Chaplain. Photo: UOJ
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved changes to the Regulations on the Procedure for Issuing a Mandate for the Right to Carry Out Military Chaplaincy Activities, reports Taras Melnychuk, the Permanent Representative of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to the Verkhovna Rada.
According to Melnychuk, the regulation "On Amendments to Some Laws of Ukraine Regarding Ensuring the Rights of Servicemen and Policemen to Social Protection" has been adopted.
Now, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience has grounds to refuse chaplaincy mandates to a religious organization that is recognized as part of a religious organization whose governing center is located in a state recognized as having committed armed aggression against Ukraine and/or temporarily occupied part of the territory of Ukraine.
As the UOJ reported, in August 2023, the most mandates were issued to the OCU – 494. Of these, only 97 people, or 20%, are in the army. A similar situation exists with the UGCC. Out of 91 mandates, only 25 individuals serve as chaplains in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, priests of the UOC are not allowed to serve as chaplains on the front lines, while those from the OCU and UGCC are not willing to.
Read also
MP: Rada to introduce Day of Old Rus fleet’s campaign against Constantinople
Maksym Buzhanskyi announced the preparation of a new list of state and "religious" holidays.
In Israel, synagogues and mosques closed due to military conflict
Israeli authorities have banned mass gatherings, including services during Ramadan and before Purim.
Romanian Patriarchate calls for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine
The Romanian Orthodox Church has stated the need for urgent solutions to restore peace and called for prayer for those in the world's military conflict zones.
Kyiv City Council deputy: We aim to ensure no UOC communities in Kyiv region
Tytykalo stated that the deputies set the task of "cleansing the Kyiv region of the UOC".
395 UOC churches damaged by shelling since start of war – report
An updated report on damaged religious sites over four years of war in Ukraine includes data on 395 affected UOC churches, as well as hundreds of destroyed or damaged facilities belonging to other denominations.
GOC opens fundraising drive for Sinai Monastery and Holy Sepulchre Church
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece has called on Greece’s metropolises and parishes to collect donations to support the ancient shrines on Sinai and in Jerusalem.