The bishops of the UOC opposed the renaming of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church


A meeting of the Council of bishops of the UOC of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

The Council of bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church condemns the attempts of discrimination of believers of the UOC at the legislative level.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church will protect its rights by all lawful means. This is stated in the official statement of the Council of bishops of the UOC, which took place on 13 November in Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

“The Council of bishops is against any attempts to change the name of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as declared by the first persons of the state, and other manifestations of discrimination of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the legislative level”, – stated in the document published by the outreach Department of the UOC.

The bishops emphasize that in the case of adoption of the relevant laws by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will protect its rights by all lawful means, under “Basics of social concept of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” Ukrainian legislation and the European Convention on human rights.

“The Council of bishops encourages all the faithful of the UOC strengthen prayer, to keep unity among themselves and loyalty to Christ’s Holy Church and not be afraid of challenges, remembering the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: “be of good cheer for I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33)”, – the document says.

Earlier, Poroshenko said that after the establishment of one Local Church, the UOC will be called “Russian Orthodox Church”. He later said that representatives of the “ROC” has nothing to do in Ukraine, and recommended them to go “home to Russia”.

As reported by the SPM, 13 November 2018 Petro Poroshenko has refused to arrive to Kiev-Pechersk Lavra to meet with the bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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