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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Assyrian Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III: Great evil is being perpetrated by the godless power that has planned the destruction of the Church of God in Ukraine
DECR Communication Service, 31.10.2023.
"With great sadness we recall the bitter events and injustices perpetrated against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church," said Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III of the Assyrian Church of the East at a meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on the 31st of October 2023. - "We were greatly saddened to learn that its hierarchs are being condemned and imprisoned, and its churches are being closed and taken over by schismatics. And just recently we have learnt that the authorities in this country want to pass laws banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for its centuries-old connection with the Moscow Patriarchate."
"A great evil is being perpetrated by the godless authorities who have plotted the destruction and ruin of the Church of God in this country," the Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East emphasised. His Holiness the Catholicos-Patriarch strongly condemned "these inhuman actions that violate international laws, trampling on freedom of religion and freedom of conscience of all people."
He also expressed confidence that "it is the duty of the UN to oversee the situation and to protect the rights of all sons of the Church in Ukraine so that their rights as true believing Christians are not trampled upon."
"We ask in our prayers for the mercy of God, that the Lord God may protect His true Church in that country from the hands of the destroyers and from the insidious plans of the schismatics who divide the Church of God, and establish peace, tranquility, proper dispensation and lawfulness in this situation," Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III noted.
Addressing Patriarch Kirill, he said: "We pray to God for Your Holiness, for we know what great sadness you personally and the entire Russian Orthodox Church are experiencing in connection with this situation. We pray to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to strengthen you together with the bishops, clerics and truly believing laity who are suffering in this alarming situation."
His Holiness Catholicos Patriarch Mar Awa III also emphasised that the Lord bestows beatitudes on all those who are reviled and persecuted for the sake of His Holy Name.
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