Head of Pidvysoke UTC: UOC ban is a speculation we will not let happen
Viktor Lozinsky, head of the Pidvysoke UTC of the Holovaniv district, Kirovohrad region, said at a regular meeting that no officials can forbid people to gather in a religious community and pray. Vasily Goncharuk reports this on his Facebook page.
“People confuse the village community and the church community. ...> A religious community is an association of people who turn to God in the form they consider necessary. Jews go to the synagogue, Muslims go to the mosque, and these people go to their church. No, we want them to go to some other church. So what's the big deal if you want that?" Lozinsky noted.
The official suggests that those who wish to ban the UOC should first remember in which church they were baptized, and if something does not suit them, go and convert to Judaism, Islam, or, as they say now, “be re-baptized” in a temple of another jurisdiction.
“It's all speculation. We do not have this in our territorial community and will not have it. ...> The head of the Verkhovna Rada said – let’s not incite (inter-religious strife – Ed.), the president said the same. …> No one can forbid people to gather in a religious community,” said the head of the Pidvysoke UTC.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Joasaph of Kirovohrad and Novomyrhorod appealed to the authorities to protect believers from persecution.
Read also
MP urges to ease pressure on UOC for sake of peace
Oleksii Honcharenko proposed compromises on language, historical memory, and Church issues as part of efforts to achieve peace, saying those who wish to attend the “Russian Church” should be allowed to do so.
Court takes 17th-century church in Staryi Pochaiv from UOC community
A commercial court overturned a 2018 registrar’s decision and stripped the UOC’s Ternopil Eparchy of ownership of the 17th-century church.
Vinnytsia Eparchy honors Bar Icon of the Mother of God
Metropolitan Varsonofiy celebrated the Liturgy at the Bar Convent on the feast day of the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God.
Rada speaker discusses legalization of same-sex marriage in Rivne region
Ruslan Stefanchuk suggested that sponsors of separate bills to legalize same-sex marriage personally make their case to Ukrainians.
Jerusalem Patriarch rejects proposal to celebrate Christmas on December 25
The Jerusalem Patriarch rejected a proposal for a common Christmas celebration and reaffirmed the Church’s adherence to the Julian calendar.
SBU told Phanar many UOC bishops would join OCU in 2018, report says
According to a Phanar representative’s account, Ukrainian security services told the Constantinople delegation that many UOC representatives were prepared to attend the OCU’s “Unification Council.” In the end, only two did.