RPTs SYNOD CALLS CONSTANTINOPLE'S ACTIONS IN UKRAINE "CRIMINAL" AND URGES ORTHODOX CHURCHES OF WORLD NOT TO RECOGNIZE PTsU
On 28 December 2018, at a session of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (RPTs) occurred a discussion of the "grave consequences of the anticanonical and criminal intrusion of the patriarchate of Constantinople onto the canonical territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," the official website of the RPTs reports.
Especially noted was the "uncanonical character" of the unification council occurring in Kiev on 15 December.
Members of the Synod "testified to their profound anxiety because the discriminatory Ukrainian law 'On introducing amendments into the Ukrainian law "On freedom of conscience and religious organizations"' has taken legal effect, on the basis of which secular politicians intend to seek the elimination of the canonical and legal name of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and they regard this legislative action as a crude violation of the principle of the noninterference of the state in internal affairs of religious societies enshrined in the constitution of Ukraine."
It was noted that this law "enters into conflict with fundamental international documents regarding the protection of human rights and liberties."
The Synod adopted the decision "to appeal to the primates and holy synods of fraternal local Orthodox churches, urging support for Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine Onufrey, the episcopate, clergy, monastics, and faithful servants of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in connection with the trials being experienced," and also urging nonrecognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. (tr. by PDS, posted 31 December 2018)
Editorial disclaimer: RRN does
not intend to certify the accuracy of information
presented in articles. RRN simply intends to certify the
accuracy of the English translation of the contents of the
articles as they appeared in news media of countries of
the former USSR.
If material is quoted, please give credit to the
publication from which it came. It is not necessary to credit
this Web page. If material is transmitted electronically, please
include reference to the URL,
http://www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/.