MP: We must say bye to UOC before Easter

MP of Ukraine from the Holos party Natalia Pipa. Photo: espreso.tv

Natalia Pipa, VR MP of Ukraine from the Holos (Voice – Trans. note) party, said that the Ukrainian state should part with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over Holy Week for ever. She said this in her speech in the Verkhovna Rada, Pershy Kozatsky reports.

According to her, Holy Week is a time for making "difficult" decisions, and the ban on the UOC will give "inner peace" to the Ukrainian state.

“We really need to go through purgatory before Easter similar to our Armed Forces. But no one says to close churches in Ukraine. We must say goodbye to the FSB organization, which is controlled from Moscow, which keeps collaborators within its walls and protects them,” she said.

Pipa also recalled that the Verkhovna Rada had submitted bills that provide for a ban on the UOC:

“In this connection, four bills are presented in this hall: Inna Sovsun’s, Oksana Savchuk’s, government bill No. 8371, 8221 and bill No. 8662, which facilitates the transition to the OCU. The last bill is about simplifying the juridical procedure. I call to immediately put it on the agenda and take on the challenge this Passion Week, to make a decision that may be unpopular now because of someone.”

As reported by the UOJ, the representative of the President in the Verkhovna Rada said that a law would be adopted in the near future to ban the UOC.

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.