The Holy Synod deems it important to draw attention to violations of the rights of believers in Ukraine

DECR Communication Service, 29.12.202.

On December 29, the members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church considered the situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Synodal session was held at the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in the St. Daniel Monastery in Moscow. It was chaired by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

As is known, on 4 December of this year, President V. A. Zelensky of Ukraine announced a number of repressive measures towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The supreme legislative body of the country is to consider the bills that contradict international legal norms, presume discrimination against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and limit its rights. Against this background, illegal actions have been reinforced in Ukraine towards the canonical Church’s structures and members. Diocesan administrations, monasteries, parishes have been subjected to searches and clergy with monks and lay people to humiliating inspections and arrests under farfetched pretexts and to ‘personal sanctions’. Schismatics have made more frequent provocations and captures of the UOC churches. Now the canonical Church is under a threat of being deprived of the right of using the churches of the Kiev Pechersk Laura of the Dormition.

The growing pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is accompanied with an unbridled anti-church campaign in the mass media with prominent politicians, state officials and public figures participating in this anti-religious campaign of the Soviet past.

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed support for the hierarchs, clergy, monastics and laity who, in these ordeals, seek to preserve the unity and canonical order of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The Synod stressed the importance of drawing the attention of Local Orthodox Churches, representatives of Christian confessions and the world religious community as well as international human rights organizations to the violations of the rights of believers in Ukraine.

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The Holy Synod deems it important to draw attention to violations of the rights of believers in Ukraine

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons