OCU cleric: Attending UOC churches is equivalent to treason

Drevniak with the keys to the seized UOC church. Photo: Espreso

Oleh Drevniak, the self-proclaimed “rector” of the St. George Cathedral in Lviv, seized from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), told the NTA TV channel that he considers UOC believers to be traitors.

“A conscious Ukrainian understands that attending that Church is, one might say – well, this is my personal opinion – but it’s equivalent to treason. We see how many people are dying in this war, how many civilians and children have already been killed. How can one go to a church whose chain of authority ends in the aggressor country?” Drevniak told journalists.

He went on to claim that all UOC clergy support Russia’s war in Ukraine:

“Some of the clergy do so openly, others secretly, but they all justify Russian aggression. They say it’s not aggression, that it’s defense, or – I don’t even know what they mean – but they do not condemn it,” Drevniak asserted.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Lviv, journalists had harassed UOC believers who gather for prayer services in private apartments.

Read also

U.S. House of Representatives passes ban on sex-change surgeries for minors

The lower house of Congress supported an initiative limiting medical interventions that could have irreversible consequences for the health of minors.

Armenian Church to appeal to international bodies over government pressure

The decision was made by the Supreme Spiritual Council in Etchmiadzin against the backdrop of criminal cases, pressure on the clergy, and the state's attempts to interfere in church life.

Pashinyan's supporters attempt to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia

The confrontation around the Armenian Apostolic Church intensified after rebellious hierarchs called for the Catholicos's resignation and attempted to exert forceful pressure in Etchmiadzin.

Persecuted community of Maliatyntsi celebrates first patronal feast after seizure

In Bukovyna, the faithful of the St. Nicholas community in the village of Maliatyntsi celebrated the Feast Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia for the first time after the church seizure.

European authorities downplay scale of Christian persecution, report says

Human rights defenders reported an increase in attacks on believers in the EU and pointed out that official statistics do not reflect the real level of anti-Christian hostility.

Mukachevo Eparchy bishops congratulate orphaned children on St Nicholas Day

Metropolitan Theodore and Bishop Hilarion visited the “New Family” children’s shelter in Uzhhorod.