APPEAL
of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
to the faithful children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Your Eminences and Graces
Dear Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters
Today the Ukrainian Orthodox Church along with the entire people of Ukraine is seeing a path to nationwide reconciliation. We see, with joy, that in Donetsk and Luhansk provinces tension is gradually lessening and the cease-fire is holding, which we hope will turn into a genuine, strong peace. Our church has frequently emphasized the necessity of the search for a peaceful path to resolving this difficult armed conflict. And today we sincerely welcome the efforts of the Ukrainian government aimed at overcoming it.
Recently the state authorities have devoted much effort also to the resolution of problems of church-state relations. Today religious organizations have already received the right to act as founders of educational institutions, the statute concerning the ministry of military clergy (chaplaincy ministry) in the armed forces of Ukraine has been confirmed, and a procedure for state recognition of documents regarding advanced religious education, scientific degrees and academic titles granted by higher religious educational institutions has been developed. At present, a discussion is underway in the Supreme Soviet of several draft laws that are critical for the life of the church.
Despite the noted positive achievements in relations between the church and state, in various regions of our country cases of the violation of civil order on religious grounds have been identified. In particular, recently there have occurred regular attempts to seize church buildings of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, instances of violence against believers, and sometimes even attempts upon their lives. With regret it is time to conclude that some local bodies of government permit violations of current national legislation and law enforcement agencies do not always come to the defense of the legal rights of religious societies, clergy, and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
All of this not only hinders the exercise of the constitutional right of citizens of Ukraine to free confession of their faith but also provokes social tension in our state. At the time when an extremely difficult peace process is continuing in the Donbass, we actually face the danger of destabilization of the social situation in other regions of Ukraine.
Today the synod's Legal Department is carefully monitoring all cases of the violation of legislation against religious societies of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and it is providing timely information about this for law enforcement agencies in order to prevent inflaming of interconfessional hostility. We hope for just and impartial investigation of all such conflicts. The illegality of actions directed against clergy and laity of our church have already often been brought to court. The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church asks all ruling bishops and clergy to report without delay to the synod's Legal Department about all attempts to seize church buildings and other instances of the violation of rights of believers of our church.
In the present situation that is difficult for our church, support on the part of world Orthodoxy and the entire world community is extremely important. Therefore the Department for External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church conducts monitoring of violations of the rights of believers and informs local Orthodox churches and international rights advocacy organizations of these incidents.
Today our task, as Christians, consists in preserving peace and calm in our country. We will not surrender to provocations and we will not permit ourselves to be dragged into conflict on religious grounds. We decisively oppose all attempts to undermine the country from within.
Our main weapon in this spiritual struggle is genuine Christian love for our neighbors. Our Lord Jesus Christ calls us: love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who offend and persecute you, and you will be sons of your Heavenly Father (Mt. 5.44-45). Any hostility among people is overcome by love. If the Lord sends us trials, that means he is concerned for our perfection. He gives us the possibility to grow in love for neighbors. See that no one renders evil for evil; but always seek good for one another and for all (1 Th. 5.15).
We consider it our pastoral duty to say several words about our concern for the situation that has developed around the preparation for the Pan-Orthodox Council. We ask all who have anything to do with this preparation to do everything to preserve the rules, traditions, and customs of the Holy Catholic Orthodox Church, which are the foundation of our pan-Orthodox unity.
May the blessing of God be with us all.
In the name of members of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
+Onufrey,
Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine,
primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
(tr. by PDS, posted 29 October 2015)
Ukrainian original posted on website of Ukrainian
Orthodox Church, 27 October 2015
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