Iryna Herashchenko: We hope Bill 8371 will boost UOC parishes to join OCU

Petro Poroshenko with his fellow party members. Photo: Iryna Herashchenko's Instagram

Member of Parliament from Petro Poroshenko's party, Iryna Herashchenko, expressed hope that Bill 8371 will accelerate the "transition" of communities to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

She believes that the adoption of Bill 8371 is a "historic vote" as the Verkhovna Rada "passed a bill that bans the branch of the aggressor country in Ukraine."

According to her, "this is a matter of national security, not religion," and Poroshenko's party "did everything possible and impossible to ensure that this decision was made."

"We registered the relevant bills, defended amendments, blocked the podium, negotiated with deputies from other factions, persuaded, and fought," Herashchenko wrote.

She thanked the MPs who voted for this bill, noting that "a significant part of our work, the 'European Solidarity' team's work, contributed to the overall victory."

"We hope today's decision will boost the transition of parishes to the OCU – the only local canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. I am proud that this process began with the granting of the Tomos to Ukraine by President Petro Poroshenko in the winter of 2019!" Herashchenko concluded.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Rada passed Bill 8371 banning the UOC.

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