Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Palestine in Ukraine Dr. Mohammed al-Asaad and Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Ukraine Mr. Sumi Shigeki
Archbishop Theodosius introduced Eastern diplomats with the facts of the increased pressure of the state authorities of Ukraine at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
On 4 and 5 December 2018 vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis Archbishop Theodosius boyar (Snegiryov) shared with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors of Japan, Mr Shigeki Sumi and Palestine Dr. Mohammed al-Asaad information about mass interrogations of priests in the SBU and other harassment of the UOC on the part of the authorities and the media, said Information and education division.
His Eminence visited at the invitation of the ambassadors of the mission of Japan and Palestine, where there were celebrations on the occasion of the birthday of the Emperor Akihito and the International day of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
He said Mr. Shigeki Sumi and Dr. al-Asaad’s congratulations to Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church his Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Onuphrius with national holidays and told Eastern diplomats about searches in the homes and temples clerics of the UOC, numerous false publications about them in the media with the disclosure of their personal data from public registers and closed about the massive challenges of priests for questioning in the SBU.
Metropolitan Vladimir conveyed the request of his Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry attentive to the situation of the UOC and not to allow to repeat the tragic events of the Soviet persecution of the Church.
Mr. Shigeki Sumi and Dr. Mohammed al-Asaad transferred to Metropolitan Onufry words of support and promised to observe the rights and freedoms of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
5 Dec 2018 boyar Archbishop Theodosius (Snigirev) at a gala reception at the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan told about the interrogation of priests and searches of the temples of the UOC. Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Ukraine Samat Ordabayev said that the international community will not leave without attention the situation of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.