Department for External Church Relations
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Patriarch John X of Antioch: The law adopted in Ukraine implies the abolition of the oldest legitimate Orthodox Church in the country
DECR Communication service, 26.08.24
On August 24, 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Great Antioch and all the East sent a letter to Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and all Ukraine, expressing unwavering support in light of the adoption of a discriminatory law in Ukraine aimed at liquidating the canonical Church in the country.
"We have recently received the news that the Ukrainian Parliament adopted Bill No. 8371 on banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, preventing Her from existence and depriving Her of all Her property. This ban amounts to a collective punishment inflicted upon millions of believers whose only “sin” is that they remain loyal to the Orthodox faith received from the saints according to the Apostolic succession." the message states, as quoted by OrthodoxTimes.
Patriarch John assured that "the Patriarchate of Antioch stands by the side of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, whose faithful people are confessors and witnesses," and "reiterates that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the only Church in Ukraine that is in Eucharistic communion with all local Orthodox Churches, enjoying apostolic succession and valid priesthood."
"Thus, the attempt to ban and abolish this Church is an abolition to the oldest legitimate Orthodox Church in this country" stated the Antiochian Patriarch.
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