Pavlenko: We’re creating Church for tens of millions unwilling to be in UOC

Former deputy head of the AP Rostislav Pavlenko

Church initiatives of the Ukrainian government have a very simple "message", said former deputy head of the Ukrainian Parliament Rostislav Pavlenko on the Hromadske TV channel.

"Since tens of millions of believers want canonical communication and do not see themselves in the Moscow Church, the task of the state is to create an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church," Pavlenko said, adding that those who wish to remain in communion with Moscow have such a right and "the state will protect this right".

According to the State Statistics Committee on January 1, 2018, the population in Ukraine is 42 million 386.4 thousand people. At the same time, unofficial sources say that there are barely 38 million Ukrainians.

Read also

ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill

Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown

Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.

Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions

A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.

Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law

Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.

Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment

The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.

Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful

Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.