Home page News
Archbishop Theodosius of Sebastia: We protest…

Archbishop Theodosius of Sebastia: We protest against the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and condemn violence against it

DECR Communication Service, 02.01.2024.

Archbishop Theodosius of Sebastia (Patriarchate of Jerusalem) announced that he had joined the international human rights organisation "The Church against Xenophobia and Religious Discrimination". It was established in December by a number of hierarchs and clergymen of the local Orthodox Churches together with the non-governmental organisations Public Advocacy, VSI Zmogaus teisiu apsauga and European institute for religion and law, which have consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

According to the press service of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, expressing his gratitude for the invitation to join this association, Vladyka Theodosius stressed that while praying for peace in Palestine, it is necessary to pay attention to Ukraine, where there are serious violations of human rights, including the believers of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by Metropolitan Onuphry.

The hierarch stated that the Ukrainian state authorities are carrying out unjustified, inadmissible systematic persecution of the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as a result of which a number of bishops have been harassed on false accusations. The main danger is that the Ukrainian authorities are planning to adopt a bill to restrict and, in the future, ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. All measures being implemented, including the confiscation of churches and church property, attacks on the institutions and lands of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and violent actions directed against Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, are serious violations of human rights.

"From Jerusalem, from the Holy Land, we call on all Christian Churches of the world, religious and human rights organisations and all high-ranking persons to oppose the arbitrary actions of the Kiev authorities, which can be seen as a persecution of the Church," Archbishop Theodosius stressed. – “No one should be persecuted because of their religious affiliation! The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, its bishops, priests and people are being persecuted because of their adherence to the ancient Church, which is the oldest Church in Ukraine and is canonical and legitimate".

He called for all measures to be taken to stop the bloodshed, disasters and sufferings to which believers in Ukraine are subjected, because "the sufferings of our brothers in faith in Ukraine make us suffer ourselves," in the words of the Apostle: "If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. You are the body of Christ, but apart you are members" (1 Cor. 12. 26-27).

"Expressing solidarity and support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, all bishops and priests, we protest against its targeted persecution and condemn the violence against it," said Archbishop Theodosius. – “We appeal to all human rights, international and humanitarian organisations to take urgent measures to stop this persecution: living in the XXI century, it is impossible to imagine how the Church, which has always carried the message of peace, love, brotherhood and mercy to people, can become an object of persecution".

 

Share:
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates His Holiness Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria on his election and enthronement

30.06.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Met with the Released Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin and Bratslav

25.06.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with senior Russian Protestants

18.06.2024

Patriarch Kirill's Congratulations to Prime-Minister Narendra Modi on His Re-election as Head of the Government of India

12.06.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with students of Higher Diplomatic Courses

04.06.2024

Reception at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on the Occasion of the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture and the Name Day of the Primate of the Russian Church takes place

24.05.2024

Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church sends message of congratulations on the occasion of the name’s day of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill

24.05.2024

The OSCE is monitoring the situation with the rights of believers in Ukraine.

16.05.2024

Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church participated in a meeting of the Strategic Vision Group "Russia - Islamic World" in Kazan.

16.05.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends greetings to participants in the conference of “Russia – Islamic World” Group of Strategic Vision

16.05.2024

Paschal Message from Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Russia

04.05.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed the blatant examples of pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

27.04.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill hosts a regular session of the Supreme Church Council.

16.04.2024

Patriarch Kirill met with the DECR Chairman and the Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe

09.04.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates moleben in Donskoy Monastery at the shrine with St. Tikhon’s relics

07.04.2024

Head of DECR Meets with Ambassador of Argentina in the Russian Federation

16.07.2024

DECR chairman visits Moscow Metochion of the Patriarchate of Antioch

27.06.2024

Metropolitan Anthony meets with executive director of Malankara Church’s Department of Ecumenical Relations

27.06.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with senior Russian Protestants

18.06.2024

DECR chairman awarded honorary doctorate by Diplomatic Academy of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

14.06.2024

Chairman of the DECR delivers lecture at the Don Theological Seminary

11.06.2024

The Synod Acknowledged the Impossibility of Concelebration with Hierarchs of the Bulgarian Church Who Entered into Ecclesiastical Communion with Schismatics

30.05.2024

Chairman of the DECR heads celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the consecration of the Church of All Saints in Strasbourg.

26.05.2024

Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations visits Kykkos Monastery

21.05.2024

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus

20.05.2024

DECR chairman meets with Russian Ambassador to Cyprus

20.05.2024

DECR chairman meets with Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol

20.05.2024

Russian Church of St Nicholas the Wonderworker consecrated in Limassol

20.05.2024

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk begins his visit to Cyprus

18.05.2024

Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church participated in a meeting of the Strategic Vision Group "Russia - Islamic World" in Kazan.

16.05.2024

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب