Ukraine seeks “spiritual independence”, acts against the church – #Ukraine #seeks #spiritual #independence #acts #church
March 12 (Reuters) – of Ukraine Russia punitive measures against the Orthodox Church associated with the president Vladimir Zelensky said on Sunday.
Zelensky and others Ukraine leaders formed a long time ago Ukraine Orthodox Church (UOC) of Ukraine accused of violating the unity and cooperation with Moscow.
Authorities last Friday ordered the church to leave its base at the 980-year-old Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, prompting Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill to ask Pope Francis and other religious leaders to help end the crackdown.
Zelensky he said in his video message at night without directly referring to the order: “This week another step was taken in the direction of strengthening our moral independence.
According to him, Ukrainians reacted positively to it.
“We will continue this movement. “We allow the terrorist state to manipulate the moral life of our people, Ukraine We will not allow them to destroy their sanctuaries – our Lavra or steal their valuables.”
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Kirill strongly supported Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. In his address, he called religious leaders and international organizations “the monastery mandatory to make every effort to prevent it from being closed.”
Since October, the Security Service of Ukraine has searched UOC churches, imposed sanctions on its bishops and financial supporters, and arrested dozens of clergymen. crime opened the case.
Church officials say she and millions of her worshipers are the subject of a witch hunt.
Orthodoxy is the main faith in Ukraine, and the Moscow-affiliated church was established after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, but only 2018It competes for worshipers with the independent Orthodox Church, recognized by the church hierarchy in .
The independent church has been growing and following since the occupation.
The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine states that the Moscow-affiliated church must leave the Pechersk Lavra monastery complex by March 29.
Reporting by Ron Popeski and Nick Starkov; Written by Ron Popeski; Edited by Lincoln Holiday.
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
2023-03-13 06:59:39
Source – reuters
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