Open Letter of the Residents of Ptycha Village to President of Ukraine
The residents of Ptycha, Badivka, Hodosy, Mylcha, Chudnytsya, Sudobychy, Novosilky, Rachyn, Bilohorodka villages, Rivne region, are appealing to President of Ukraine not only as the guarantor and leader of the Ukrainian state, but as a good Christian.
To President of
P.O. Poroshenko
01220, Kyiv,
Copy: the Ukrainian
Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
V.V. Lutkovska
01008, Kyiv,
General Prosecutor of Ukraine
V.M. Shokin
01601, Kyiv,
Head of the Verkhovna Rada
V. B. Groysman
01008, Kyiv,
Minister of Internal Affairs of
01024, Kyiv,
Mass Media
(listed)
Open Letter
Dear Mr President,
We, residents of Ptycha, Badivka, Hodosy, Mylcha, Chudnytsya, Sudobychy, Novosilky, Rachyn, Bilohorodka villages, Rivne region, are appealing to you not only as the guarantor and leader of the Ukrainian state, but as a good Christian. We remember how warmly you greeted the country at Easter. We remember your calls for peace and harmony. Unfortunately, not everybody heard you.
There are forces, which instead of uniting under a veil of one faith, began to fan the fire of religious hatred. Real religious separatism took root in the very heart of
Since last year our church communities have been attacked by representatives of the so-called Kiev Patriarchate, which is not recognized by any denomination in the world. They are spreading rumors that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church supports separatism. Although in fact, it is they who are true separatists as they are separating Ukrainians, deceitfully forcing them to change confession. They sow discord among the branches of the Orthodox faith and call our Church hostile to the Ukrainian state.
Their main argument is that people out of habit call our Church the Moscow Patriarchate. And this allegedly indicates links with the
We do not boast of that but prove our right to practice our native faith in our native land. We respect other branches of Christianity and are always ready to cooperate with them. We always strive to live in peace and harmony. We accept the choice of each individual. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has never called for war, because it is contrary to the Christian spirit. At the same time, many of our parishioners have fulfilled their military duty to the homeland. And many continue service in the armed forces now. Imagine how hurtful for them it is to hear accusations of separatism!
For a long time we have been trying to defend our religious freedom alone. But now, when our churches are being seized by force, we find no other choice but to turn to you. St. Michael's Church in Ostriv village, St.Paraskeva’s Church in Soloniv village, the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Virgin in Rachyn village, Sts. Cosmas and Damian’s Church in Sudobychi village, the Church of the Image of the Savior in Hodosy village, St.Paraskeva’s Church in Miatyn village, Holy Apostle and Evangelist St.Luke’s Church in Bilohorodka village, St.Mary Magdalene’s Church in Badivka village, the Church of Miracles of Archangel Michael in Novosilky village, St.Paraskeva’s Church in Chudnytsya village, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Mylcha village, the Holy Dormition Church in Ptycha village, etc. These and other churches in Rivne, Ternopil and Volyn regions have been seized by militants in the lawless, bandit way.
Resorting to such total lawlessness, these militants do not only undermine the reputation of the Kyiv Patriarchate, they defame the reputation of our country and your reputation as a guarantor of peace and concord in
Taking the above mentioned into account and governed by Art. 25, 40 of the Constitution of
Following consideration of the case, please inform our community of Rivne eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, represented by Archpriest Vitalii Herlinsky, about the results in the term established by law at the address: 33000, Rivne, 5 Lermontov Str.
God Bless
Date: May 25, 2015 Signature
Annexes: to the first addressee - the original, to the other addressees - copies.
Annex 1: 97 signatures of parishioners of the Holy Nativity of the Virgin parish, Rivne Eparchy of the UOC, Mylcha village, Dubno district, Rivne region; 5 sheets.
Annex 2: 214 signatures of parishioners of the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Virgin in Rachyn village, Dubno district, Rivne region; 7 sheets.
Annex 3: 81 signatures of parishioners of Sts. Cosmas and Damian’s Church, Rivne Eparchy of the UOC, Sudobychy village, Dubno district, Rivne region; 4 sheets.
Annex 4: 20 signatures of parishioners of St. Mary Magdalene’s Church, Rivne Eparchy of the UOC, Badivka village, Ostrog district, Rivne region; 1 sheet.
Annex 5: 209 signatures of the religious community of St. Paraskeva Parish, Rivne Eparchy of the UOC, Chudnytsya village, Goshcha district, Rivne region; 7 sheets.
Annex 6: 55 signatures of the religious community of Rivne Eparchy of the UOC, Hodosy village, Rivne region; 2 sheets.
Annex 7: 113 signatures of parishioners of the
Annex 8: 115 signatures of parishioners of St. Luke’s parish, Rivne Eparchy of the UOC, Bilohorodka village, Dubno district, Rivne region; 6 sheets.
Annex 9: 48 signatures of parishioners of St. Michael’s
