Holy Synod calls on the President to stop lawlessness against the UOC

On May 12, 2022, the Holy Synod of the UOC addressed President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky with a request to stop illegal actions against the Church, the Information and Education Department of the UOC reported.

Members of the Synod expressed their concern about the growing incidence of inciting hatred and enmity on religious grounds in Ukraine. For example, anti-church bills have been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; local governments in the regions are trying to illegally ban or restrict the activities of religious communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; the temples of the UOC are being seized with the tacit consent or with the open connivance of the local authorities.

The members of the Synod stated that all these facts result from the erroneous religious policy of Poroshenko presidency and the destructive ideology of the so-called Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

The Synod appealed to President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky to intervene in the situation, to halt religious hatred in Ukrainian society and take measures against lawless actions against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Also, the UOC officially appealed to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Irina Venediktova to investigate illegal actions by the authorities against the Church.

Recall that in some regions of Ukraine, the authorities are trying to legislate banning of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and back adherents of the OCU who seize the churches of the UOC.

As the UOJ wrote, lawyers drew the attention of the authorities and the public to the iniquities directed at the UOC.

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