UGCC Patriarch in Israel: religious values are strength of democracy
An example of Israel shows that democracy can be strong when based on religious values. And it is religious values that are the strength of democracy.
Such an opinion was expressed by the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Svyatoslav, on March 5 in Tel Aviv, during a meeting of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations with the President of the Knesset, Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, the Department of Information of the UGCC wrote.
The head of the UGCC noted that today in many countries of the former Soviet Union it is believed that only a strong leader, a dictator will ensure peace in the state, and democracy is for the weak.
“The example of your country shows that democracy can be strong, but for that it should be based on values. And it is religious values that are the strength of democracy. For if democracy, and we see it in Europe, renounces religious values, it tends to slip either into anarchy or into a dictatorship,” said Patriarch Sviatoslav, noting that Ukraine could learn from the experience of building a democratic society in Israel.
Speaking about the mission of the AUCCIRO in Ukraine, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that she stands on guard for genuine democracy.
“Elections are the key moment to a democratic society. When people do not believe in democracy, they do not go to vote. Because they do not believe that something can change. We see that some dictators turn the elections into a show. An example of this is the neighboring country: everyone knew in advance who wins the election, but it was necessary to live through the staged action,” he said.
"The Primate reiterated: “ We wish that our country be a true democracy, where the dignity of a human person, regardless of their national, ethnic, religious background, is a cornerstone where their voice has value and where they are responsible for their state.”
The Head of the UGCC expressed his desire to promote the development of a bilateral agreement on a Free Trade Area between Ukraine and Israel, which was signed on January 21, 2019. “This is not only the business of the economy,” said the Shevchu. “This is evidence that democracy can be strong. This is today the only model for building a social order in which a person can live and quietly develop.”
As reported, the official visit of the delegation of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations to Israel takes place at the initiative of Yakov Dov Bleich, chairman of the AUCCRO, Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Ukraine.
The first on-site meeting of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations also took place in 2009 in the State of Israel. Then the outcome of the AUCCRO delegation’s meeting at the highest level was the final settlement of the issue of establishing a visa-free regime between Ukraine and Israel.
