Yelensky talks about his conversation with His Beatitude on banning UOC
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine. Photo: news.church.ua
Viktor Yelensky, the Head of the State Ethnopolicy and Freedom of Conscience Service (DESS), commented to Interfax Ukraine on August 21 that he spoke with His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy about the future of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) following the adoption of Law No. 8371.
"I had a conversation with Metropolitan Onufriy... I told him that we are not demanding that he join another church, nor are we demanding that he switch to a new calendar or anything like that; it’s only about breaking ties with Moscow," Yelensky said.
According to the official, the UOC can sever its relations with Moscow even during the judicial review process.
Yelensky also claimed that in those days, 400 priests of the UOC appealed to Metropolitan Onufriy, urging him to convene a council and sever ties with the Russian Federation. However, His Beatitude did not receive the delegation.
"Yelensky emphasized that the interaction with Onufriy will not be in the format of consultations, but the State Ethnopolicy Service does not reject dialogue," the report states.
As reported by the UOJ, the head of DESS is ready to "sketch out a model" for how the UOC can join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).
Read also
Greek Archdiocese of America creates Folk Dance and Cultural Ministry
The American Archdiocese of the Constantinople Patriarchate has created the Folk Dance and Culture Department to preserve Greek traditions.
Request about Baptism of the Lord on Jan 19 tops Ukrainian trends on Google
Ukrainians massively googled for congratulations and information about the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 19.
ECHR to consider lawsuit against placement of icons in Greek courts
Strasbourg will examine an appeal from an atheistic organization in Greece challenging the placement of Christian religious symbols in the country's courtrooms.
Holy Spirit Church of UOC damaged by shelling in Dnipropetrovsk region
The Holy Spirit Church, which is an exact copy of the Resurrection Church in Foros, was damaged.
Poland excludes words "man" and "woman" from marriage documents
The Polish government has changed civil status record forms following the EU Court's decision to recognize same-sex unions concluded outside the country.
RCC in Poland introduces ban on secular music during wedding ceremonies
The Roman Catholic Church in Poland has declared the inadmissibility of performing popular songs at church wedding ceremonies, emphasizing that the Liturgy should not be turned into a concert.