UGCC head declares religious escalation in Ukraine only benefits the enemy
Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Photo: hromadske
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), Sviatoslav Shevchuk, expressed gratitude to a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople for serving as a "catalyst for dialogue," according to the UGCC press service.
He noted, "Unfortunately, today in Ukraine we have stopped talking to each other, we have stopped meeting. And when there are no meetings and dialogue, it leads to escalation."
Shevchuk emphasized that only the enemy benefits from such escalation.
"Religious peace in Ukraine is one of the elements of national security. Russia has sought to destroy this peace and turn the war into an interfaith conflict. This visit truly aimed to build bridges, encourage dialogue, and perhaps even rebuke those who refuse to speak," concluded the head of the UGCC.
As reported by the Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ), in Zolochiv, Lviv region, the mayor, deputies, representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), and Greek Catholics are harassing a priest and the community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), trying to expel believers from the town under pretextual reasons.
Earlier, Greek Catholic priest Vasyl Hasynets called all UOC priests "agents of the FSB and accomplices of terrorists" and also claimed that many of them participated in the torture of Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers.
Additionally, in the village of Tsenyava in the Kolomyia district, Greek Catholics took away a UOC church dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God "Pantanassa".
Read also
Medieval сhurch сrumbles as Culture Ministry сites missing agreement
The 14th–15th-century St. Nicholas Church in Chesnyky, Ivano-Frankivsk Region, is falling into disrepair.
Poland сondemns Lviv Regional Council's decision to declare 2007 year of UPA
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says the Lviv Regional Council's decision to dedicate 2027 to the UPA and Roman Shukhevych is harmful to Ukraine.
OCU seeks court recognition of ownership of seized Cherkasy cathedral
The Cherkasy Regional Commercial Court will hear an OCU lawsuit seeking ownership of St. Michael's Cathedral, which was seized from UOC believers.
Lithuanian bishop: Ukraine is no model for believers' rights
Vicar of Vilnius Diocese voices concern over attempts to import Ukraine's religious conflict into Lithuania.
Hundreds of believers honor St. Alexis of Carpatho-Russia in Khust Eparchy
At the St. Nicholas Monastery in the village of Iza-Karputlash, Metropolitan Mark of Khust led a festive liturgy, concelebrated by six metropolitans, five archbishops and three bishops.
Court upholds UOC parish appeal in Voloshky over OCU switch dispute
The Northern Commercial Court of Appeal has upheld the appeal of the St. Nicholas parish of the UOC in the village of Voloshky, Volyn region, in a dispute over a transfer to the OCU.