VR Speaker: Banning UOC is not on Parliament’s agenda
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine that the bill to ban the UOC will not be considered in the near future.
"We have been discussing this issue for a long time within our political groups. And despite the fact that everyone somewhere inside has their own internal decision ...>, we have agreed as follows: during the war we have no right to pass any law that splits the Ukrainian society," Stefanchuk said.
As reported, in March 2022 several draft laws to ban the UOC were registered in the Verkhovna Rada at once. One of them was authored by Oksana Savchuk, an MP of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, whose regional centre has only one temple of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office Mykhaylo Podoliak was critical of the idea of banning the UOC and urged not to speculate on issues of faith.
Read also
Lawyers continue accepting statements in defense of Kyiv Metropolis in court
UOC lawyers have published document templates and step-by-step instructions for believers wishing to submit statements in the DESS lawsuit.
Czech Roman Catholic bishop responds to killing of Sviatohirsk Lavra monk
Catholic Bishop Tomáš Holub called for prayers for all those suffering in Ukraine.
Thousands of UOC faithful honor St. Job of Pochaiv
Clergy and thousands of faithful took part in the traditional procession with the relics of St. Job on the feast commemorating their discovery.
Chernivtsi authorities plan to forcibly evict UOC community from cathedral
A Chernivtsi enforcement officer said authorities intend to forcibly evict the UOC community from the cathedral with the involvement of law enforcement.
Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra commemorates saints of Far Caves
The UOC chancellor led the Liturgy on the feast day of the venerable saints of the Kyiv Caves who rest in the Far Caves.
Poland marks 100th anniversary of Lemkos’ return to Orthodoxy
Hierarchs of the Polish Orthodox Church led celebrations in Gorlice marking the 100th anniversary of the Lemkos’ return to the Orthodox faith.