Rooting them up: OCU explains why UOC churches are seized

The head of the OCU and Mykhailo Zubkovich. Photo: facebook.com/matviy.dmitro

The “priest” of the OCU, Mykhailo Zubkovich, awarded by Epiphany, expressed his indignation on his Facebook page by the protests of the UOC believers against the arrival of Patriarch Bartholomew and said that real Ukrainians should not “tolerate Russian proteges in Ukrainian thrones or Ukrainian traitors in parishes”, but “root them up so that there is not even their spirit in the Holy Ukrainian land." This is exactly how, according to Zubkovich, one can respond to those who are indignant at the seizure of their temples.

He turned to the believers of the UOC and urged them to "come to their senses".

“You reproach that people are taking away your temples, but did you build them?” asks the "priest". The last temple in the Crimea, which was built by the Ukrainians, was taken away. So why should people tolerate Russian henchmen in Ukrainian thrones or traitorous Ukrainians in parishes?"

According to him, “the ROC in Ukraine is like weeds in the Ukrainian field amid the blossom that needs to be rooted up, so that there would be not even their spirit in the Holy Ukrainian land. Ukraine and our people have everything: language, their Holy Church, Ukrainian customs and traditions, but you do not let all this germinate." Zubkovich proved these words referring to the fact that there no chaplains of the UOC in the Ukrainian army (in fact, they are not allowed there by the authorities – Ed.).

Zubkovich stressed that believers of the UOC should not protest against the arrival of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to Ukraine either and was indignant at why the SBU and the relevant state bodies are still silent on this matter.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that less than 1% of the parishes of the UOC voluntarily transferred to the OCU.

Read also

Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer

In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.

Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova

Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".

Bancheny Monastery reports provocation

The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.

Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine

On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.

Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution

At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.

Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession

The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.