20 December 2018 at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine gathered believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the prayer service on non-interference of government in Church Affairs. Reported Information-enlightenment Department of the UOC.
In prayer standing at walls of the Verkhovna Rada will take part about two thousand faithful of the UOC. Together with the faithful praying the Bishop Vasilkovsky Nicholas, Bishop of Ivankov Cassian, and Bishop Tikhon of Gostomel.
Orthodox Ukrainians read the akathist to the Mother of God.
They pray that the Lord repented of MPs to stop interfering in the internal Affairs of the Church and not to adopt discriminatory laws aimed at discrimination of believers of the UOC and restricting their constitutional rights to freedom of conscience and religious beliefs.
It is worth noting that today, December 20, the Verkhovna Rada should consider the so-called anti-clerical legislation. At the moment the head of the Parliament Parubiy suggested that to consider the bill on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On freedom of conscience and religious organizations” regarding the name of religious organizations No. 5309, and a draft law No. 4128 amending the Law of Ukraine “On freedom of conscience and religious organizations” (regarding the changes in religious communities of subordination), which simplifies the transition.
Parubiy urged the deputies “to hear the request of Patriarch Filaret, to include these bills in the agenda, to consider them and support because they claim the Ukrainian Church and help it to gain wider commitment and support in Ukraine”.
Recall that on 14 December and 18 may 2017 near the Parliament already was a prayer vigil. Believers of the UOC even then expressed the position on the adoption of the anti-Catholic laws. His prayer standing people spoke against adoption of the controversial draft laws # 5309 and # 4128 that could legitimize “Church RAID”, and bill No. 4511, designed to discredit the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the state assumes control of her Affairs.