Bulgarian religious scholar urges BOC to defend persecuted Church in Ukraine

Vasiliana Merheb. Photo: glasove.com

Bulgarian religious scholar Vasiliana Merheb spoke out regarding the persecution of the episcopate, clergy, and Orthodox Christians of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), particularly the persecution of journalists from the UOJ (Union of Orthodox Journalists). The theologian called on the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to raise its voice in defense of the UOC, Orthodox ecclesiology, and the canonicity of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church before the whole world.

She reminded that more than 30 bishops are being persecuted by the Ukrainian authorities, with many facing multiple repressive actions from law enforcement. She particularly noted that bishops and priests are being exchanged for prisoners of war, as if they were criminals.

"For me, as someone observing these events as a theologian, I believe it is clearly a war against Christ, the Church of Christ, and the faith of Christ. It is a geo-religious war in its essence. We see that now there is an attempt to legally paralyze and occupy the UOC. But as we know, this is impossible, because Christ created the Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," Vasiliana Merheb noted.

"Our duty is not to remain silent, for it is said that 'God is betrayed by silence,'" the religious scholar urged, quoting St. Gregory the Theologian.

She listed examples of support for the UOC from Bulgaria, including the "Open Letter – Appeal in Support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Preservation of the Canonicity of the Catholicity of the Church of Christ," which gathered around 2,000 signatures from Bulgarian monks, nuns, abbots of six monasteries, clergy from nine dioceses of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, laypeople, and representatives from social, academic, and political circles. On July 28, 2023, the Feast of the Baptism of Rus, the appeal was published on the front pages of the prestigious Greek church newspaper Orthodoxos Typos under the headline "URGENT APPEAL TO THE BULGARIAN PATRIARCH", and the letter stated: "Orthodoxos Typos publishes today a translation of the letter from Bulgarian believers, who boldly address their hierarchs, ardently supporting the truth on the Ukrainian issue. What have we, the Greek believers, done? Where is the zeal of our brothers? Do we realize that due to our indifference, the Orthodox Church has been brought to the brink of schism?"

In her opinion, "the schism in Ukraine and the persecution of the UOC is not merely a local issue; it concerns all local Churches, including the Bulgarian Church."

"It is an absolute global religious genocide, a destructive matrix of ecumenical schism. This matrix, like a domino effect, is aimed at the spiritual occupation of all Local Autocephalous Churches worldwide through political pressure and repression," the Bulgarian theologian emphasized.

Merheb also pointed out the anti-church bill No. 8371, which was passed last month.

"The law No. 8371, passed by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on August 20, 2024, banning the UOC, which can be viewed as a form of institutionalized religious terrorism, compels us to respond with spiritual concern. We call on you, our archpastors, to raise your episcopal voice with the authority entrusted to you and to do everything necessary to defend Orthodox ecclesiology and the canonicity of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church in the name of the Lord before the entire world.

We urgently ask for your spiritually responsible and immediate response, urging other local Churches to make every effort to put an end to the destructive policies against the UOC," she concluded.

As the UOJ previously reported, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel called for prayers for the preservation of the UOC.

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