Polish Church Council criticises Ukrainian authorities over UOC ban

PAOC Bishops' Council in 2019. Photo: the Polish Church website

On 24 October 2023, the Council of Bishops of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church met to make a statement on the UOC ban by the Verkhovna Rada, reports the PAOC website.

In the statement, the Polish bishops stated "the need for the unity of the Church, which was violated by the non-canonical position of the Church in Ukraine."

"The Holy Council of Bishops of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church received with great misunderstanding the information about the delegalisation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the state authorities. The Council of Bishops pays particular attention to the fact that the Church of Christ has an ontological dimension and is not subject to human legal regulations. It is guided by Jesus Christ himself, our Saviour," the Council’s statement says.

The bishops call “for intense prayer for peace in Ukraine and the Holy Land, where fighting has begun and innocent people are dying".

As reported, according to a Polish bishop, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine are carrying the cross of Christ today.

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