Met. Hilarion: Renaming the UOC is like Jewish badges in Holocaust
Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is not the Russian Church, it is the Ukrainian Church, stressed the head of the Department for External Church Relations of the ROC Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, reports "Interfax".
In his opinion, renaming the UOC into the Russian Church means “marking the Church as an enemy organization”, and it is for this purpose that the relevant bills are being created.
According to him, the Ukrainian authorities want to completely seize the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, "they want to outlaw it".
Met. Hilarion explained that the UOC believers "consider themselves Ukrainians, they are patriots of their country".
As the UOC reported, earlier political expert Viacheslav Pikhovshek stated that renaming the UOC into the Russian Orthodox Church is an attempt to create an “internal enemy” in Ukraine, and will give rise to harassment.
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.