Jerusalem hierarch: Govt’s lawsuits against UOC attempt to abolish Church

Archbishop Theodosios. Photo: the archbishop’s Facebook page

The authorities’ lawsuits against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are not an administrative procedure but a targeted campaign against the Church. Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia, a hierarch of the Church of Jerusalem, made the statement in a post on his Facebook page.

Archbishop Theodosios notes that on July 2, the court is due to consider a lawsuit seeking the legal liquidation of the UOC and the deprivation of its official status. He stresses that the hearing represents a dangerous escalation of the situation surrounding the Church.

The hierarch is convinced that the actions of the Ukrainian authorities – from church seizures and searches in monasteries to the persecution of clergy – form a consistent campaign directed against the very existence of an entire confession. Now, Archbishop Theodosios believes, the matter is moving toward an attempt to abolish the Church structure itself and deprive millions of believers of their lawful Church representation.

The post emphasizes that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church continues to live its Church life while preserving its historical and spiritual roots.

As the UOJ reported, the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC filed a lawsuit against the Cabinet of Ministers. The claim concerns a government resolution establishing the procedure for investigating signs that a religious organization is affiliated with a foreign religious structure whose activities are banned in Ukraine.

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