Metropolitan Onuphry asks the Ukrainian president to prevent seizure of monasteries and churches

Kiev, June 27, 2014

Locum Tenens of the Metropolitanate of Kiev Metropolitan Onuphry of Chernovtsy and Bukovina has addressed the Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko.

“We are especially concerned about the fact that on June 22, 2014, a large number of armed people with aggressive behavior gathered near the Kiev Caves Lavra. All this looked like an attempt of seizure of the Lavra,” reads the address of His Eminence.

    

Your Excellency!

Dear Petro Alexeyevich!

Showing our sincere respect, we are addressing ourselves to you with the following question.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is continuously exerting every effort to preserve peace and inter-faith accord between churches and religious organizations in the Ukraine. But, unfortunately, in spite of all these efforts, we have seen attempts to break the inter-faith (fragile as it is) peace in the state lately.

First of all, we mean the cases of attacks on churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and attempts to set them on fire. Thus, recently there have been arsons of churches in Kiev and other regions of the Ukraine, acts of vandalism have taken place as well as attempts of seizure of churches and other premises that belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

We are especially concerned about the fact that on June 22, 2014, a large number of armed people with aggressive behavior gathered near the Kiev Caves Lavra. All this looked like an attempt to seize the Lavra. By the mercy of God and thanks to the actions of the law-enforcement agencies, the situation was settled. However, events could have developed differently, which would have caused human victims and aggravated the split in society.

We are outraged by the fact that recently messages have more than once appeared in media, substantially misrepresenting our Church’s stance on the situation in the Ukraine. The news coverage around the Kiev Caves Lavra was no exception. We regard all this as attempts to contrast the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with society artificially. Such actions pose a threat to inter-faith relations and public peace.

In view of the above-mentioned facts, we apply to you for your personal intervention in the situation, and ask you to pursue all appropriate means in order to prevent attacks and seizures of churches and monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Invoking God’s blessing upon you and your labors.

Yours faithfully,

+ Onuphry

Metropolitan of Chernovtsy and Bukovina,

Locum Tenens of the Metropolitanate of Kiev

Pravoslavie.ru

7/2/2014

See also
Icons start myrrh-streaming in Ukraine Icons start myrrh-streaming in Ukraine Icons start myrrh-streaming in Ukraine Icons start myrrh-streaming in Ukraine
Several icons in Ukraine have begun giving myrrh since last months of the last year.
Situation around the Kiev Caves Lavra being aggravated from all sides, according to the Lavra press service Situation around the Kiev Caves Lavra being aggravated from all sides, according to the Lavra press service Situation around the Kiev Caves Lavra being aggravated from all sides, according to the Lavra press service Situation around the Kiev Caves Lavra being aggravated from all sides, according to the Lavra press service
The Kiev Caves Lavra has commented on the events currently taking place near the monastery walls.
Ukrainian Orthodox Church asks Poroshenko to stop war in southeastern Ukraine Ukrainian Orthodox Church asks Poroshenko to stop war in southeastern Ukraine Ukrainian Orthodox Church asks Poroshenko to stop war in southeastern Ukraine Ukrainian Orthodox Church asks Poroshenko to stop war in southeastern Ukraine
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has called on Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko to stop the military actions in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: There can be no winner in civil war His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: There can be no winner in civil war
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: There can be no winner in civil war His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: There can be no winner in civil war
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill
The results of this bloody conflict are horrifying. Not just a hundred, as in Kiev last winter, but many hundreds of the dead, with thousands injured and left homeless. Only the devil could celebrate such a victory, when brothers attack each other, destroying each other, inflicting mutual injury, and weakening the life forces of a nation.
Locum Tenens of the Kiev Metropolitan See against Ukraine's eurointegration Locum Tenens of the Kiev Metropolitan See against Ukraine's eurointegration Locum Tenens of the Kiev Metropolitan See against Ukraine's eurointegration Locum Tenens of the Kiev Metropolitan See against Ukraine's eurointegration
Current level of morals in Europe won't bring anything good to Ukraine, Locum Tenens of the Metropolitan See of Kiev, Metropolitan Onufry of Chernovtsy and Bukovina believes.
 Ukrainian Hierarchs on the Tragedy in Odessa Ukrainian Hierarchs on the Tragedy in Odessa
Metropolitan Onuphry (Berezovsky), Metropolitan Agathangel (Savvin)
 Ukrainian Hierarchs on the Tragedy in Odessa Ukrainian Hierarchs on the Tragedy in Odessa
Metropolitan Onuphry (Berezovsky), Metropolitan Agathangel (Savvin)
The beautiful Black Sea port city of Odessa, home to several Orthodox monasteries and splendid churches, is still reeling from the utterly horrifying incidents of May2, 2014. A population famous for its diversity and upbeat love of life turned against itself and committed fratricide.
Comments
Here you can leave your comment on the present article, not exceeding 4000 characters. All comments will be read by the editors of OrthoChristian.Com.
Enter through FaceBook
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Enter the digits, seen on picture:

Characters remaining: 4000

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×