Ministry of Culture turns to UNESCO over demolition of OCU church in Crimea
Acting Minister of Culture Rostyslav Karandeyev. Photo: Screenshot from Ukrinform
Acting Minister of Culture Rostyslav Karandeyev announced that the Ministry of Culture had sent a note to UNESCO regarding the demolition of an OCU church in Yevpatoria, as reported by Suspilne.
Karandeyev stated that the demolished church was a place of worship and an architectural object, albeit a relatively recent one. Its demolition is perceived as an inhumane act and a "deliberate act of eradicating Ukrainian faith and the Ukrainian idea from Crimea."
"We have sent the appropriate note to UNESCO and the international community. We have documented this act as much as possible – unfortunately, still under conditions of remote monitoring – as one of the manifestations of genocide, specifically religious genocide by Russia. It has been added as further evidence in the future claim against the Russian Federation for the significant damages caused in Ukraine (in temporarily occupied territories)," Karandeyev said.
He also mentioned that UNESCO is assisting the Ministry of Culture in aligning Ukrainian legislation with international standards.
As previously reported by the UOJ, on the night of May 16-17, authorities in Kyiv demolished the Tithes Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Read also
Political expert: Declaring January 7 as Programmer’s Day resembles mockery
Kostiantyn Bondarenko commented on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to designate a new professional holiday on the day when Christmas is celebrated.
Cherkasy court accuses Metropolitan Theodosiy of “improper sermon”
At another court hearing in the case of Metropolitan Theodosiy, an expert attempted to argue that there had been no violent seizure of the monastery in Cherkasy and that the alleged crime was committed by the Cherkasy hierarch through an “improper” sermon.
Catherine Whiteford discusses defense of UOC with Congressman Riley Moore
An American political figure spoke about a meeting that addressed the protection of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and freedom of religion.
7-meter didukh to replace Christmas tree installed on Maidan
According to KSCA representatives, "the didukh, unlike the borrowed Christmas tree, is a traditional pre-Christian symbol of ancient Ukrainians".
Patriarch of Bulgaria: OCU will not take part in services at Phanar
The Bulgarian Patriarch emphasized that the OCU is not mentioned in the diptychs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and will not participate in joint services at the Phanar.
SBU shows what to do with those who celebrate Christmas on January 7
The video of the SBU features its employees breaking down the apartment doors with the comment: "Who comes 'caroling' to those who celebrate Christmas on January 7."