HEAD OF P.Ts.U. ASKS GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT BELIEVERS' CHOICE
Religiia v Ukraine, 7 September 2020
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine [Pravoslavnaia Tserkov Ukraina—PTsU] is asking the government to protect the choice of believers of those parishes that have decided to transfer into the PTsU. Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Rus Epifany mentioned this during a press conference on 4 September in CBN, Religiia v Ukraine reports, citing CBN and Gre4ka.info.
He said that after the tomos was received, several parishes transferred into the PTsU. However, after the election of the new government, this process stalled. Sensing the possibility of revenge, representatives of the Moscow patriarchate in Ukraine joined in and, according to the head of the PTsU, were aided by individual officials.
"We are not asking the authorities to help us. We are asking them to protect the choice of those believers who decided to transfer into the Orthodox Church of Ukraine," Metropolitan Epifany emphasized.
He said there now are about 600 parishes within the PTsU, throughout Ukraine and several litigations are continuing. Priests of the UPTsMP are taking advantage of every opportunity in order to slow down this process. In particular, there are many examples where clergy are registering as parishioners only a few residents of one residential area or another. These include primarily the priest himself, members of his family, relatives, and godparents. Because of this, other believers effectively are left without the right of a vote. To a great extent, this is facilitated by corrupt courts, it was noted at the press conference.
"Now, practically every transfer leads to judicial proceedings on the part of the Russian Orthodox Church. In most cases, courts are acting justly and there are several precedents. Those parishes that are trying to join are scared," Epifany said.
However, the head of the PTsU is convinced that soon the process of transfer of parishes into the PTsU will again move forward.
During a visit to Kirovograd oblast, Epifany consecrated a church in the Novoukrainskii district.
Bishop of Kropivnitskii [formerly Kirovograd] and Golovanevsk Mark reported that now in Kirovograd oblast, six parishes have transferred into the PTsU. "They are all able to register these decisions. That is, the decisions have been made, and registration activity is underway, but there are lawsuits and people are defending their right of choice. In particular, I am talking about the village of Borki. Yesterday there was a court hearing in Kiev. Now opponents from the Russian Orthodox Church have not succeeded. In many parishes that have transferred, the property is not registered. Each parish has its own challenges and trials," Bishop Mark says. (tr. by PDS, posted 7 September 2020)
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