PATRIARCH FILARET URGES UKRAINIANS NOT TO DESTROY UKRAINE BY THEIR OWN HANDS
Patriarch of Kiev and all-Rus-Ukraine Filaret condemned the use of a grenade and firearms during a rally at the wall of the Ukrainian parliament on 31 August, as a result of which, according to news media, one serviceman of the National Guard perished and dozens were wounded.
"I am profoundly disturbed by the violence and bloodshed and murder, which were perpetrated today during a rally near the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet," the patriarch noted.
The appeal by the primate of the UPTsKP emphasizes: "The church does not consider it possible to give a categorical assessment of the question of the changes to the constitution which were discussed today in the Supreme Soviet. Among our faithful there are both those who support such changes and those who oppose them. As always in a democratic society, various points of view exist on political decisions. And so in order to hear the opinion of the majority of people, as well as to take into account the position of the minority, the parliamentary form of democracy exists. So that it is not violence and arms but parliamentary discussion and decision that determine the laws of the state.
Peaceful protest and nonviolent confrontation also are an instrument of democracy, the right to which is guaranteed by the constitution and the laws. It is thanks to peaceful protest that the Revolution of Dignity triumphed—the Ukrainian people defended their right primarily not by the use of force but only by defending against violence against them.
But when today, during a protest demonstration, live deadly arms were used and a live grenade was thrown, when blood was shed and murder committed, this is not democracy and not defense of Ukraine but the incitement of civil war."
Patriarch Filaret stressed that it was because of internal disputes that we lost the chance to our own statehood and fell into the Moscow yoke for three centuries. The same happened also at the beginning of the 20th century, when Ukrainians fought with Ukrainians, accusing one another of insufficient patriotism, and as a result Ukraine wound up in bolshevik captivity.
Therefore the head of the UPTsKP urged all citizens: "We will not repeat the old mistakes and by our own hands destroy Ukraine! History clearly testifies that bloody revolutions, unlike peaceful ones, no matter by what slogans they may be justified, end up in civil strife, weakening of the state, and hostility among the people. At a time when Ukraine is surviving Kremlin aggression, the opening of an armed 'second front' in Kiev is a knife in the back of our independence and statehood. In a democratic society, political questions should be decided exclusively by peaceful and legal means. So there is a lot in Ukrainian politics that requires criticism. But this criticism must not destroy the country, so that in pursuit of the best we lose what is good even now, as happened in the time after Bogdan Khmelnitsky and at the beginning of the 20th century." Patriarch Filaret's appeal was distributed by the press center of the Kiev patriarchate. (tr. by PDS, posted 3 September 2015)
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