State Ethnopolitics publishes requirements for UOC to break-off with ROC
Head of the State Ethnopolitics Service Viktor Yelensky. Photo: DESS
DESS has published its clarifications to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church regarding the evidence it should provide to demonstrate the UOC's separation from the Russian Church. The text was made public after a meeting between the DESS leadership and the UOC bishops, which took place on May 31, 2023, with the blessing of His Beatitude Onuphry. The State Ethnopolitics Service called for the following evidence of the UOC's separation from the ROC:
- to disclose an official document from a church authority or person(s) authorized to speak on behalf of the UOC, regarding the UOC's withdrawal, along with all its eparchies, synodal institutions, deaneries, monasteries, spiritual educational institutions, brotherhoods, sisterhoods, parishes, and missions, from the ROC;
- for the bishops and clergy of the UOC who are part of the ROC's episcopate, its Synod, synodal institutions, and Inter-Council Presence commissions to submit statements of withdrawal and make these statements public.
to officially notify the Local Orthodox Churches of the UOC's separation from the ROC; - to impose ecclesiastical penalties and/or exclude from the episcopate and clergy individuals who have directly participated in the annexation of Ukrainian territories, willingly collaborate with Russian occupiers and bless weapons used to kill Ukrainians.
- the church authority responsible, according to the internal regulations of the UOC, for expressing its position on current issues in society and assessing significant events in the sphere of inter-church, inter-confessional, and inter-religious relations should make an official statement regarding Patriarch Kirill's teaching on absolving sins of the invaders who will die in Ukraine, his blessing the war against Ukraine, as well as the actions of church authorities regarding the annexation of UOC eparchies.
As stated in the text, "Such actions could indicate a breakdown in the direct relationship of subordination between the UOC and the Russian Orthodox Church, which has become one of the instruments of the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine."
As reported, KDAiS found DESS’s expertise on the UOC inconsistent.
Read also
Myrrh-Bearers Bring Orthodoxy to Rural Virginia
Following the example of their heavenly patrons, the Holy Myrrh-Bearers, this community bring the myrrh of faith to all those around them.
Cherkasy Bishop Urges Pat. Bartholomew to Revoke Legalization of OCU
In an open letter to the Ecumenical Patriarch, Met. Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv stressed that simply withdrawing the Tomos is no longer sufficient under current circumstances.
Fr. Alex Karloutsos Elevated to Megas Protopresbyteros
The title, which means “grand archpriest,” means Karloutsos is now the first priest under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The announcement came before another surprise – his church was raised to the status of cathedral, and he is its dean.
Pat. Bartholomew Celebrates Divine Liturgy in the Hamptons
Following the liturgy, Fr. Alexander Karloutsos was raised to the rank of Megas Protopresbyteros and the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons was elevated to the status of Cathedral.
YouTube Deletes Channel of Greek UOJ
Greek branch of Union of Orthodox Journalists condemns move as censorship and an attempt to silence a voice defending Orthodoxy.
Texas Gov. Cracks Down on Abortion Pill
The legislation targets a “global abortion pill syndicate." Exemptions allow for legitimate medical uses, like treating ectopic pregnancies.