Secretary of Rivne Eparchy urges believers to save their priests

A cross and a service book. Photo: znaj.ua

The secretary of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC, Archpriest Viktor Zemlianyi, in an interview with journalist Tetiana Tsaruk, called on parishioners to protect the clergy from mobilization due to systemic discrimination on the part of the state.

The priest noted that the law requires equality of all before the law, yet in practice the norms of the Constitution are being violated on religious grounds. "A priest is granted a deferment because he belongs to a religious organization recognized as critical infrastructure," Father Viktor emphasized. "Religious organizations affiliated with the UOC do not fall into that category."

According to the cleric, this threatens the very existence of communities, depriving them of the ability to conduct divine services and sacraments.

In the conditions of a legal vacuum, the eparchy's secretary proposed that believers use any lawful means to protect their pastors.

“The primary task of the faithful is to save their priests,” the archpriest said. “If you have the opportunity to secure an exemption for a priest, do so. Pool your money, hire him, start a business or a company, whatever it takes to protect the priest.”

The cleric emphasized that saving a clergyman is directly linked to the spiritual survival of every layperson. "First, save the priest, then you will save your soul. Because a priest is a spiritual mentor who knows a little more than the rest of us,” Fr. Viktor concluded, urging the faithful to protect the clergy as the foundation of the Church.

As the UOJ reported, Congresswoman Luna declared the mobilization of UOC priests to be unlawful.

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