RUSSIAN CHURCH SAYS ARSONISTS OF CHURCHES IN UKRAINE DESPISE OWN PEOPLE
Interfax-Religiia, 27 January 2015
The head of the synod's Information Department, Vladimir Legoida, expressed concern because of the arson of a church in the Desna district of Kiev and of other churches.
"Information about the shellings, arsons, and destruction of churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are arriving with alarming frequency," V. Legoida declared, who was quoted by his press service on Tuesday.
He pointed out that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the church of the majority of Ukrainians, "inextricably linked with their national identity and also to their membership in the family of Orthodox peoples of the world."
"The only person who can resort to violence against any religious building is one in whom his lack of culture, hatred, and cynicism have reached their limits," V. Legoida emphasized.
He is sure that in this time that is tragic for Ukraine "only those who have contempt for their own people can infringe upon churches, creating new points of conflict."
"Once again I call people to turn to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as the unifying foundation in Ukrainian society and the starting point on the path to long-awaited peace for which believers in Ukraine, Russia, Belorussia, and many other countries have prayed," V. Legoida concluded.
As has been reported, in recent days two churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow patriarchate in Kiev have been set on fire, on the territory of the Babi Yar national historic memorial reserve and in the Desna district. (tr. by PDS, posted 28 January 2015)
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