UOC-Moscow Patriarchate Rep States That Law on Freedom of Worship Is Kept In Ukraine
According to representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), the law “On Freedom of Worship and Religious Organizations” is kept in Ukraine and religious situation is stable. So reported the press secretary of the Head of UOC-MP, Protopriest Heorhii Kovalenko to Gazeta.ua.
In particular, he stated that President Viktor Yanukovych is keeping his word when he says that the “role of the state is not to interfere in the affairs of the Church and create equal conditions for the development of all the confessions.”
“I can really see that the President keeps his word. He conducts the policy of non-interference in the Church affairs The head of the state simply professes his faith and attends the Church to which he personally belongs. By the way, this position of his is supported by representatives of all the traditional Churches and religions. For each person, even if they are an ordinary citizen, should attend their Church to pray,” stressed the priest.
At the same time, according to him, the state policy should be pursued in accordance with the Constitution and the Law “On Freedom of Worship and Religious Organizations.”
“I did not hear that law to be violated in Ukraine on a mass scale. On the contrary, our situation is quite stable,” said the representative of UOC-MP.
Also, Protopriest H. Kovalenko advised Ukrainians to “purify soul and body” during the fast in anticipation of the Easter.
“Those who have not started to fast should start. And should duly prepare themselves for the preparation of the Light Christ’s Resurrection, purify their soul, body and homes,” noted the press secretary of Metropolitan Volodymyr.
Earlier, people’s deputies of the faction “Our Ukraine” sent a deputies’ request to Public Prosecutor General, Viktor Pshonka as to the pressure put on the priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate to force them to transfer to UOC-Moscow Patriarchate.
President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych is to meet with the heads of the Ukrainian Churches on 21 April.
