Expert: Govt. to hold "negotiations" with hierarchs of UOC after its ban
Andriy Smirnov. Photo: oa.edu.ua
Religionist Andriy Smirnov in an interview with Suspilne said that the OCU, the Ukrainian authorities and the Patriarchate of Constantinople should negotiate with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as it is necessary to search for a model of peaceful coexistence and then the unification of Ukrainian Orthodoxy.
"Because this is really a matter of national security, we cannot allow either the exarchate or some other structures of the Russian Orthodox Church to continue operating in Ukraine after the end of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and there is such a danger," Smirnov said.
The religious scholar is sure that even in the case of a complete ban of the UOC, which is a long judicial process, its activities will not cease.
"Believers can go into the catacombs, engage in underground activities. After all, our legislation is so democratic that it allows religious communities to act even without registering a statute. That is, de facto, activities, worship services will continue," he explained.
As reported by the UOJ, the leadership of the OCU demands to ban the UOC, blackmailing the authorities with elections.
Read also
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.
Archimandrite Ioustinos, longtime keeper of Jacob's Well, dies in Jordan
Archimandrite Ioustinos (Mamallos), the keeper of Jacob's Well in Nablus, has died after a prolonged illness.
Pilgrim group from Kyiv Theological Seminary visits Mount Athos
KTS students are making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Romania, Greece, Mount Athos and Italy.
UOC cathedral celebrates its patronal feast in Ternopil
The service in the cathedral of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia was led by Metropolitan Serhii of Ternopil, concelebrated by four hierarchs.
MinCulture marks centenary of Soviet-era reserve at Lavra's Refectory Church
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture presented awards to the Reserve's employees on the occasion of the anniversary at the Refectory Church of the Lavra.
Conference to mark 1700th anniversary of Christianity adoption held in Georgia
In Georgia, representatives of the Church and the state noted the defining role of Christianity in the country's cultural development.