UOC: Case over Tomos is obstacle to international recognition of church

19.06.2020 14:32

Ukrinform

The existence of an investigation on the application of parishioners of the Kyiv Patriarchate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over the illegal actions of a number of senior officials who committed acts aimed at inciting inter-religious hatred during the establishment of the UOC is an obstacle to the church's international recognition.

“The fact that such an ‘investigation’ has been officially launched and is still being conducted (over eight months) can be assessed by the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as an example of the use of the legal system, law enforcement and judicial bodies of Ukraine by the opponents of the UOC's independence to impede the development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the process of its international recognition, the freedom of expression of religious communities," reads the statement of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

It is noted that this "investigation" is part of a number of similar statements and actions made over the past year and a half to persecute the clergy and active parishioners of the UOC, to put pressure on honest representatives of local authorities and self-government.

"Especially shameful and cynical is the use of the name and authority of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate in the current campaign, which ceased to exist as a religious association by the decision of the Local Council on December 15, 2018, forming the united Local Orthodox Church of Ukraine together with other branches of Ukrainian Orthodoxy. It should be reminded that the UOC is the only successor to the UOC-KP and the UAOC, which merged, and those who try to continue to act on behalf of the UOC-KP as if from a separate religious association do not have either canonical or legal right to do so," the document emphasizes.

The UOC notes that the state is obliged by law to respect the traditions and internal guidelines of religious organizations, not to interfere in the activities of religious organizations carried out within the law.

Former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said near the Pechersk District Court in Kyiv on Thursday that another criminal case had been opened against him - inciting religious hatred due to the receipt of the Tomos of Autocephaly by Ukraine.

The State Bureau of Investigation later confirmed that it was investigating possible illegal actions by senior officials who had committed acts aimed at inciting inter-religious hatred during the establishment of the UOC.