Ukraine: Another city council votes to ban Church, seize its property

Boryslav, Lvov Province, Ukraine, May 20, 2022

Holy Protection Church in Boryslav. Photo: zahid.espreso.tv Holy Protection Church in Boryslav. Photo: zahid.espreso.tv     

Officials in a Lvov Province city in western Ukraine have voted to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church beginning next month.

The decision from the Boryslav City Council is the latest in a series of similar decisions throughout Ukraine. The officials intend not only to close the church, but also to seize its property, starting June 1.

The Council reports on its “historic decision”:

Today, on May 19, after lengthy discussions at meetings of humanitarian commissions, having weighed all the negative and positive aspects, Deputies of the Boryslav City Council made a historic decision—they banned the activities of the religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the parish of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, which is subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate, on the territory of the Boryslav city territorial community.

The decision comes into force on June 1, 2022.

This decision also prohibits the use of church premises for meetings and services and the sale of products of the Orthodox Church. The Boryslav City Council will begin the procedure of compulsory seizure of a real estate object and transfer it to the communal ownership of the Boryslav territorial community.

Earlier this month, the mayor of Konotop in the eastern Sumy Province banned the Church in his city under the pretext of a threat to national security. The same also occurred in Kagarlyk and Brovary, both in the Kiev Province.

The Ukrainian Church’s Legal Department has protested such decisions, explaining that they have no legal force, and the Ukrainian Synod has called upon President Vladimir Zelensky to intervene and put an end to such divisive moves.

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5/20/2022

See also
Ukrainian Synod appeals to President to stop persecution of the Church Ukrainian Synod appeals to President to stop persecution of the Church Ukrainian Synod appeals to President to stop persecution of the Church Ukrainian Synod appeals to President to stop persecution of the Church
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Comments
Seraphim 5/22/2022 10:17 pm
I think it is quite normal for an site moderator or editor not to reveal their personal data online. After all, most individual commentators don't. At least this website allows comments, unlike https://orthodoxtimes.com/
Editor5/22/2022 12:03 am
Afanassy: Comment moderation is not censorship, and a moderator is not obligated to post his name.
Afanassy5/21/2022 10:29 pm
EDITOR: You said, in part, "We do not post comments that are written solely for the purpose of insulting people and sowing divisions, without adding anything to a civilized discussion." - - - What is your criterion for "sowing divisions"? If unhappy information is offered, but is completely truthful, does that constitute "sowing divisions"? Or, while perhaps creating some tension, would that nonetheless simply point to a problem that needs to be addressed? Does that somehow impede "a civilized discussion" or enhance it? It sounds to me like your guideline has crossed the redline into outright censorship, based on smoothing things over for a nice placid pablum discussion. BTW1: I am NOT talking about spreading disinformation: I am a scientist for whom accuracy and truth are paramount. BTW2: You still have not said who are by name and credentials. You are still faceless and anonymous.... ==================================
Editor5/21/2022 9:43 pm
Afanassy: We are located at Sretensky Monastery, Moscow. OrthoChristian.com is the English version of the leading Orthodox website in Russia, Pravoslavie.ru, which operates under the auspices of the Patriarchal Council for Culture of the Moscow Patriarchate. We do not post comments that are written solely for the purpose of insulting people and sowing divisions, without adding anything to a civilized discussion. We also do not post comments that spread known disinformation.
Cat5/21/2022 8:59 pm
What else could be expected from the "authorities" who are easily threatened, rotten and corrupt to the core.
Afanassy5/21/2022 4:33 pm
EDITOR: Why can I not find an "About" link for you on your website? Who is "OrthoChristian.com"? What organization sponsors you? Who are these mysterious "editors" and staff members who read comments and pass judgment on them? With what jurisdiction are you affiliated? It sometimes seems as though this website does not brook any criticism of the Moscow Patriarchate, but I could be wrong. =====================
Aaron 5/20/2022 3:27 pm
As a spectator from Asia I would like to remark that the authorities in Ukraine are not only brazen but are shameless enough to cause internal strife among the people and the so called leaders of OCU and it's long tongued spokesman eustratius along with the bishops of ugcc have joined hands in delivering Godless propeganda of poroshenko May the lord help the Ukranian orthodox church led by his beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry and surely reward all the faithful by a thousand folds in his eternal kingdom
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