MP explains why UOC does not provoke conflicts in response to persecution

UOC believers after the seizure of the church in Mykhalche. Photo: Pravlife

MP Artem Dmytruk declared that even in response to persecution, the Church would not create tense situations in the country. He made this statement in response to a question from the Telegraf publication regarding why UOC believers did not protest after the conflict surrounding the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

"The thing is, we are not a religion, not an organisation that will fight, beat or create unpleasant, unnecessary situations in the country, especially during wartime. Today, UOC parishioners and clergy are engaged in entirely different activities: they are systematically strengthening our state, supporting citizens in difficult psychological conditions, and doing a lot of work with soldiers returning from the front. UOC priests and monks are involved in completely different work," stated the deputy.

He drew attention to how UOC believers defend their church in case of seizure.

"Look at the brutal way in which UOC parishioners are being deprived of their temples. And what are they doing at this time? They are standing at the church: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners.” They pray for everyone, including the persecutors of the Church and those who beat them and take their temples away. This is our position. Our Church stands for peace," emphasized Dmytruk.

The deputy also stated that this is always expressed by His Beatitude, despite the persecution of the UOC.

"How many UOC priests and human rights defenders are illegally imprisoned today, in pre-trial detention centers, how many have suffered at the hands of radicals, yet our His Beatitude Onuphry never said, 'Brothers, go there...'. No. We pray! Prayer is the most important credo of our Church. We pray for our enemies; we pray for our persecutors. This is our main position," he said.

As reported by the UOJ, MP Artem Dmytruk became a subdeacon of the UOC.

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