Andrey Yurash: There will be two parallel Orthodox structures in Ukraine
Director of the Department for Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine Andrey Yurash
In Ukraine there will be two parallel structures which will be called Orthodox. This was stated on the air of Priamoy TV channel by the head of the Department for Religions of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.
According to him, the creation of parallel jurisdiction in Ukraine will create a struggle for influence.
"There will be two parallel structures in Ukraine which will be called Orthodox," the official said. Both will observe the Orthodox dogmas and will have competition. If now we are facing a situation where one part of the Orthodox, i.e., the UOC in unity with the Moscow Patriarchate, calls itself the canonical Church and considers all the others to be schismatic and graceless, in the futuew there will be two graceful structures, two canonical Churches, who will fight for their dominance."
Yurash also noted the Church of Constantinople considers Ukraine its canonical territory.
"The answer of Constantinople was about this ... <...> We do not violate anything, we have canonical rules, the history behind us. We confirm our canonical rights to these territories," quoted the head of the Department for Religious Affairs.
Earlier, Andrey Yurash stated that work on receiving the Tomos is done for the assertion of equality and liberal approaches in the religious plane. The UOC, however, has repeatedly warned that the creation of parallel jurisdiction in Ukraine would conserve church separation for centuries.
Read also
Georgian Church Resumes Construction After Miracle
The foundation of a church was blessed at Georgia's Oncology Center — construction resumes on the Church of Ss. Panteleimon the Healer and John the Baptist.
BREAKING: Met. Arseny Hospitalized After Falling Ill During Court Hearing
Faithful urged to pray as proceedings in Sviatohirsk hierarch’s case continue daily.
Pat. Bartholomew: It Is a ‘Grave Sin’ To Put Politics Before Church Unity
"Those who jeopardize this unity in the name of geopolitical expediencies and base motives for acquiring earthly power—falsely cloaked in spirituality—commit an offense before God and a grave sin," the Ecumenical Patriarch said.
OCA Chancellor Visits Romania and Czech Lands and Slovakia
Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino represents Met. Tikhon at major church events and meetings with hierarchs of sister Churches.
Procession Held in Honor of St. Gabriel of Georgia
On Nov. 1, clergy, Mother Paraskeva, and Russian, Ukrainian, and Georgian faithful took part in a procession from the house of St. Gabriel the Confessor and Fool-for-Christ to the Samtavro Monastery.
Hierarchs of UOC Appeal to Zelenskyy in Defense of Met. Arseny
The episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church called on Zelenskyy to stop the persecution of Met. Arseny and to ensure he receives medical treatment.