Rivne Eparchy urges regional council head not to offend UOC believers

Meeting of the Diocesan Council of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC. Photo: rivne.church.ua

On June 15, 2025, the Diocesan Council of the Rivne Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church issued an official appeal to Andriy Karaush, head of the Rivne Regional Council, in response to his public statements about the UOC and his initiative to inspect the monasteries and churches of the eparchy.

In the appeal, the clergy expressed concern over these remarks, which, in the eparchy’s view, discredit the thousands-strong Orthodox community in the region and bear signs of religious discrimination.

“Such statements not only discredit the many thousands of faithful of our Church in the region but also exhibit signs of religious discrimination, thereby violating the constitutional rights of Ukrainian citizens,” the appeal states.

The Diocesan Council reminded the regional head that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has long carried out its activities independently and autonomously, making all decisions within its own ecclesiastical structure. The administrative center of the UOC is located in Kyiv, and the Church is not part of any foreign religious organization.

The appeal particularly emphasized that among the UOC faithful are numerous defenders of Ukraine, their families, mothers of fallen soldiers, as well as clergy serving as chaplains at the front, assisting displaced persons, and supporting the military.

“Public statements that call into question their dignity, sacrifice, and civic stance are deeply offensive not only to our faithful but to Ukrainian society as a whole,” the eparchy stressed.

In conclusion, the eparchy called on the head of the regional council to exercise prudence, respect the constitutional rights of citizens, and preserve interconfessional peace.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that inspections of UOC parishes for alleged ties with the Russian Orthodox Church had begun in the Rivne Eparchy.

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