UOC Chancellor reports attempts to ban UOC to EU ambassadors

On June 16, the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, wrote letters to ambassadors of the European Union, the UN, the OSCE and other international organizations telling them about numerous cases of illegal decisions of local governments of Ukraine to ban or suspend the activities of the UOC, reports the DECR press service.

In particular, such decisions were made by the Boryspil City Council on May 6, 2022, and the Brovary City Council on June 13, 2022. As the Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Vladyka Anthony, said in a letter that there are currently 36 such cases across Ukraine. Illegal decisions to restrict or ban activities of the UOC were taken in Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zhytomyr, Transcarpathian, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Lviv, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi and Cherkasy regions.

Metropolitan Anthony drew foreign diplomats' attention to the fact that such bans contradict a number of international legal norms:

According to Metropolitan Anthony, the above decisions of some local authorities "also contradict Article 35 of the Constitution of Ukraine and Paragraph 9 and Paragraph 1 of Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine "On the legal regime of martial law", because local authorities cannot prohibit the activities of a religious organization during martial law, they are not even empowered to raise the issue of prohibiting the activities of a religious organization.

"Metropolitan Anthony asked foreign diplomats to inform their governments about the mentioned cases of violations of human rights and the right to freedom of conscience and religion in Ukraine," the DECR message said.

As reported, the UOC Chancellor appealed to Zelensky over the situation in the Boryspil Eparchy.

Read also

Eyewitnesses Claim OCU Paid Militants to Seize Cathedral in Chernivtsi

Militants reportedly received 1,000 hryvnias each for their involvement; the son of a local OCU priest claims he was paid $3,000.

Ukraine Presses Romanian Church to Recognize OCU Following Violent Church Clash in Chernivtsi

Kyiv says recognition would boost trust, downplays ethnic motives in religious conflict.

St. George Albanian Orthodox Church Marks 100 Years of Faith and Community

Connecticut parish celebrates century of service with relic gift, procession, and festive banquet.

Your Church is Nearer to the Prison System Than You Probably Think: A Reflection for Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday on July 27, 2025

A reflection offered by Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM).

Protesters Storm Historic Greek Orthodox Church in Nazareth

Group calling themselves “Soldiers of God” accused of desecrating Annunciation site amid protest over Damascus attack.

Altar Used as Toilet During Seizure of Ukrainian Cathedral, UOC Clergy Allege

UOC accuses OCU supporters of defiling Holy Spirit Cathedral altar in Chernivtsi, using it as toilet and smoking area during June 17 standoff.