MP: There are enough people within the walls of VR who will defend UOC

Verkhovna Rada deputies Victoria Grib and Vadim Novinsky during the prayer standing of the UOC. Photo: a video screenshot from the page of the UOC Information Centre on Facebook

Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Viktoria Grib said words of support to the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who on June 15, 2021, held the prayer standing under the walls of the Parliament in defence of their rights and the Church, according to a report from the NASH TV channel published on the Facebook page of the UOC Information Centre.

The MP said that among the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada there are enough parliamentarians who will stand up to defend the UOC. “Believe me, there are enough people within the walls of the Verkhovna Rada who will defend our (UOC believers’ – Ed.) interests,” said Viktoria Grib.

She thanked the believers gathered at the walls of the Verkhovna Rada for their readiness to defend their faith and expressed hope for God's help in this matter. “Thank you very much for being here today. For the fact that you are ready to defend your faith, and the Lord will not leave us,” said the people's deputy.

On June 15, 20,000 believers of the UOC held the prayer standing near the Verkhovna Rada, where they handed over two bills in defence of the UOC, and also made a cross procession to the Office of President.

On the same day, President Vladimir Zelensky, speaking at the All-Ukrainian Forum “Ukraine.30”, commented on the prayer standing of the UOC believers near the Verkhovna Rada with the words “Something is wrong in the Church again”, confusing it with the rally of the OPZZh.

As reported, MP Vadim Novinsky assured the believers that the deputies will do their utmost to ensure the adoption of the bills in defence of the UOC.

Read also

DESS: The number of communities joining OCU in 2024 is half of last year’s

Over a year, 232 communities of the UOC changed their jurisdiction.

Scale of internal damage to UOC cathedral in Zaporizhzhia shown online

The video allows viewers to assess the damage endured by the main Orthodox church of the UOC in Zaporizhzhia.

Ex-MP UOC protodeacon Novinsky declared suspicion of high treason

The former MP is accused of "ensuring that a significant part of Ukrainian society, who are believers of the UOC, remain under the direct influence of the leader of the ROC".

St Andrew’s icon survives under the rubble of UOC cathedral in Zaporizhzhia

The icon was painted by nuns of the St Nicholas Monastery in Patras (Greece) and consecrated on the relics of St Andrew the Apostle.

RF missile strike destroys St Andrew's Cathedral of UOC in Zaporizhzhia

The fragments damaged the roof of the building, dome, ceilings, cut windows and disfigured classrooms.

Media shows conditions in which persecuted communities of Volyn have to pray

After their churches were seized, UOC faithful are compelled to pray in poorly equipped facilities.