Patriarch Kirill calls for international support of the UOC
The head of the ROC noted that the Ukrainian media launched an anti-church campaign to justify violence, beatings of believers and clergy, and mass seizures of churches, called “voluntary transitions”.
On August 24, 2024, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia addressed the Primates of Local Orthodox Churches, religious leaders, and representatives of international organisations with messages expressing deep concern over Law 8371 "On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Religious Organizations" adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, reports the press service of the Moscow Patriarchate.
The head of the ROC emphasized that "the actual goal of this law is the legislative ban of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church" and noted that the provisions of this law "blatantly contradict the norms of Ukraine’s Constitution, its international agreements, human rights and fundamental principles of law."
Addressing the Primates of the Orthodox Churches, Patriarch Kirill urged them to “offer holy prayers for the strengthening of the Orthodox archpastors, pastors, and believers in Ukraine and to raise their High Priestly voice in their defense”.
He also added that "having failed to weaken the canonical Church in Ukraine and unable to undermine its unity, the authorities decided to completely ban it".
Patriarch Kirill also expressed concerns that as a result of this law, "hundreds of monasteries, thousands of communities and millions of Orthodox believers in Ukraine will find themselves outside the legal framework, losing their property and places of worship". He called on the international community to raise their voices in defense of UOC believers, stressing that "the anti-church policies of the Ukrainian authorities have been criticized by the international community for many years".
Patriarch Kirill sent a Statement by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church dated August 22 to all recipients, condemning the law and outlining the official position of the ROC regarding the situation.
As reported by the UOJ, in December 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) declared Patriarch Kirill wanted.
