Metropolitan of UOC-MP complains to Zelensky as their priests not admitted to military chaplaincy
This was reported by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC-MP.
It is reported that Vladyka Luka handed over to the head of the region a letter intended to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, in which he complains to the head of state about "constant and systematic violation of the Constitution in Church-State relations."
In his address, the bishop of the UOC-MP has noted that over the past few years, the UOC-MP has been experiencing open attacks and "persecution" by those in power and right-wing radicals and expresses indignation that their priests are not allowed to "work" with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"Our priests are not allowed to take care of our believers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We care about our homeland. We help our citizens. We wish only one thing – compliance with the Constitution, non-violation of our rights. We ask you to hear us,” Metropolitan Luka (Kovalenko) of the UOC-MP wrote to Volodymyr Zelensky.
Metropolitan Luka made this statement almost on the same day as the subsequent message appeared on the official website of the Sevastopol Deanery of the UOC MP:
"On March 19, Russia celebrates the day of the Submariner. This year marks the 115th anniversary of the Russian submarine fleet. To mark this event, a solemn rally was held in Sevastopol, near the monument to the Black Sea submariners, which was attended by Archpriest Vasily Gumarov, assistant dean of the Sevastopol district for work with religious servicemen."
On behalf of Metropolitan Lazar (Shvets) of the UOC-MP and on behalf of the clergy of the Sevastopol deanery, the priest "congratulated the submariners on this memorable date."
After the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula by the Russian armed forces, the servants of the UOC-MP "spiritually feed" Russian sailors for combat missions.
Confirmation of "spiritual care" is also this photo, in which on July 10, 2014, a priest of the Moscow Patriarchate blesses Igor Girkin, who at that time was one of the leaders of the "DPR" group, recognized as a terrorist in Ukraine.
