The Russian Orthodox Church
Department for External Church Relations
Department for External Church Relations
The Russian Orthodox Church
Department for External Church Relations
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Metropolitan Andrei of Gori and Ateni: The ongoing forceful pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is unacceptable under either spiritual or civil law
DECR Communication Service, 01.04.2023.
In response to a message received from Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol, in which he shared information about the harassment and persecution currently being carried out against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the hierarch of the Georgian Patriarchate Metropolitan Andrei of Gori and Ateni wrote to him words of support, stressing the unacceptability of the ongoing pressure on the faithful.
Noting that the Georgian Church is deeply saddened by the tragic events taking place in Ukraine, the Archbishop stressed: "To our great regret… the situation of the many millions of the flock of the UOC is aggravated by the severity of the trials of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Many believers draw parallels with the persecution of the Church in Bolshevik times".
He stressed that "the ongoing forceful pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is not acceptable under either spiritual or civil law".
"We pray for God's mercy and speedy peace for your Christ-loving Motherland, for the unity of the Church and people, for the strengthening of souls and bodies of all members of the UOC headed by their Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, members of the Synod, brothers serving together with the faithful people," Metropolitan Andrei wrote.
In response to a message received from Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol, in which he shared information about the harassment and persecution currently being carried out against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the hierarch of the Georgian Patriarchate Metropolitan Andrei of Gori and Ateni wrote to him words of support, stressing the unacceptability of the ongoing pressure on the faithful.
Noting that the Georgian Church is deeply saddened by the tragic events taking place in Ukraine, the Archbishop stressed: "To our great regret… the situation of the many millions of the flock of the UOC is aggravated by the severity of the trials of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Many believers draw parallels with the persecution of the Church in Bolshevik times".
He stressed that "the ongoing forceful pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is not acceptable under either spiritual or civil law".
"We pray for God's mercy and speedy peace for your Christ-loving Motherland, for the unity of the Church and people, for the strengthening of souls and bodies of all members of the UOC headed by their Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, members of the Synod, brothers serving together with the faithful people," Metropolitan Andrei wrote.
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