Poturaev: UOC exiting Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church is not enough

Mykyta Poturaev. Photo: Ukrinform

Mykyta Poturaev, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and head of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, outlined the demands the state is making on the episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in light of the adoption of bill No. 8371, which is aimed against the Church. Poturaev stated that the withdrawal of the UOC's Primate and bishops from the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) is insufficient to meet the new law's requirements. He shared this in an interview with Ukrinform.

"If they have the desire and will, they can do it. That's all. Unlike the Latvian law, which simply obligated the church to declare autocephaly, we are not doing anything of the sort. We are telling them: here are the criteria, if you meet them, then you are not part of the ROC. And here's what you can do according to these criteria. This is entirely within your purview," the MP explained.

He added that the exit of the UOC bishops from the Synod of the ROC will not ensure compliance with the new law. According to Poturaev, the UOC must take several additional steps that will be documented.

"The law includes a separate article that defines affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church. Simply leaving the Synod of the ROC is far from sufficient; it is not even a primary requirement. They need to take a series of actions that will prove, including documentarily, that they are no longer part of the ROC. If Onuphry exits the Synod, but everything else remains unchanged, it will not change anything," he clarified.

As reported by the UOJ, it was previously revealed how the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) will determine a religious community's ties with the Russian Federation.

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