Kiev, April 11, 2024
Photo: news.church.ua
The Holy Synod of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church held its first session of 2024 yesterday at the primatial residence at St. Panteleimon Monastery in Kiev.
The current situation with the violation of the right to freedom of religion of the faithful and organizations of the UOC was discussed, and it was decided to inform the Local Orthodox Churches, foreign countries, and international human rights organizations about the ongoing persecution, reports the Information-Education Department of the UOC.
The Synod also reiterated the Church’s administrative independence and that since 1990, its administrative center has been located in Kiev.
The Synod also adopted the text of a statement, emphasizing
that hierarchs, priests, and laymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are subjected to criminal prosecution on trumped-up charges. Churches and other property are taken away, and religious communities are unlawfully re-registered into the newly-formed Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Nearly a thousand and a half churches have already been seized to date. Local self-governments take unlawful decisions to ban the use of property by religious organizations of our Church.
The Synod also called on the Ukrainian Parliament not to pass draft law No. 8371, which aims, “under the pretext of protecting national security,” to completely ban the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church on the federal level.
Deputies voted in favor of the bill in its first reading in October, though it must pass a second reading to enter into law, and this second reading has been delayed several times.
The Synod notes that such a law would incite religious enmity and intolerance and infringe upon the principle of the autonomy of a religious community.
The Synod also elected a new vicar bishop for the Kiev Metropolis and a new vicar bishop for the Odessa Diocese.
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