23 Churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Seized by Dissenters
Today, 23 churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are under seizure, said in their Address the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the people of Ukraine on June 24th . Some religious communities of the canonic Church are still under the pressure of the so-called "Kiev Patriarchate".
Bishops are concerned that the seizure of churches often occurs with the tacit consent of the local authorities or even with their assistance. "All this aggravates the prospects of overcoming the church schism," think members of the Synod. Despite the pressure, arch-priests advised all the faithful sons of the canonical Church not to rise to provocations, refrain from aggression and treat with genuine Christian love all those, "who do not share the desire to join in the blessed unity with all Orthodox Churches in the world. "We have to keep inter-confessional peace in our Motherland, which is one of the important factors of social stability of the State", stated in the Address.
