SBU and local authorities involved in transitions to OCU, says activist-"decolonizer"
Vadym Pozdniakov. Photo: Pozdniakov's Facebook
Activist-"decolonizer" Vadym Pozdniakov, head of the public organization "Decolonization. Ukraine", in an interview with the resource "Ґвара Медіа" openly spoke about the schemes of pressure on UOC communities with the aim of transferring them to the OCU.
According to him, there are "formal and informal means of influence" for transferring UOC churches to the jurisdiction of the OCU. Both the authorities and law enforcement agencies are involved in this process.
"I know that there are programs, formal and informal means of influence, on how to transfer churches to the OCU. Work is being done because there is political will. The SBU, regional administrations, community leadership, and police are involved to prevent incidents. Everything is being done and working," Pozdniakov stated.
The activist expressed dissatisfaction that in the Kharkiv region, in his opinion, the local authorities do not show sufficient "political will" for mass transitions. According to the Opendatabot resource, out of 298 UOC religious communities in the Kharkiv region, only two have formally joined the OCU.
Pozdniakov also noted that a significant portion of believers "do not really understand" church matters and will continue to attend the church regardless of its jurisdictional affiliation. "Transfer this church to the OCU - about 50 percent will continue to attend. And the devout believers will go to a distant church or better yet to Belgorod," he stated.
Vadym Pozdniakov is known as an active supporter of the so-called "decommunization" and "decolonization," within which he advocates for the renaming of streets, dismantling of monuments, and transferring UOC churches to the jurisdiction of the OCU.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the SBU and police conducted searches at the Pochaev Lavra.
Read also
"Stigmatization based on faith": DESS reprimands TSN for story about Muslims
DESS criticized TSN because "the investigation in the "1+1" news story immediately took on an accusatory bias, and the accused themselves were not given a voice."
His Beatitude Onuphry: Through fasting, man returns to Paradise
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry reminded the faithful about Adam's fall and urged them to repent before Great Lent.
Archbishop of Greece speaks about his successor and the Church's future
On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of his leadership of the Greek Church, the Primate gave an interview in which he spoke about relations with the state, the situation in Sinai, and the challenges of the modern world.
In Barcelona, Sagrada Familia’s central tower completed after 144 years
In Barcelona, a glass cross was installed on the Sagrada Familia temple, completing the central tower and bringing the building to the height of 172.5 meters.
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Onuphry celebrates Liturgy at Lavra
During Cheesefare Week, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Liturgy at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, addressed the flock with a sermon, and offered prayers for peace and the preservation of Ukraine's people.
In Hnidyn, St. Nicholas Church of UOC damaged by shelling
As a result of shelling, the St. Nicholas Church of the UOC in the village of Hnidyn of the Boryspil Eparchy was damaged.