Filaret expects Zelensky to support the creation of unified OCU

Filaret counts on Zelensky’s assistance in uniting Ukrainian Orthodoxy

“From the new President Zelensky, we expect the state to facilitate the creation of a single Orthodox Church in Ukraine,” said Filaret (Denisenko), “Honorary Patriarch” of the OCU. “But the state does not interfere in internal affairs, and this has been and will be so, just as the Church does not interfere in political affairs but supports the Ukrainian state from moral positions.”

He added that he positively perceives the new language law, which experts criticize as totalitarian. According to him, the law means that parliamentarians care about Ukraine.

“Today I was in the Verkhovna Rada, when there was a vote for this law and the deputies were afraid whether they would gain 226 votes, but unexpectedly gained 278 for this law, and this suggests that the Ukrainian MPs stand on government positions and take care of their state. We are very grateful to them,” Filaret stressed.

Filaret came to the Verkhovna Rada to support the language law on Holy Thursday, when in all Orthodox churches a liturgy was performed.

Read also

Orthodox and Catholic bishops make joint visit to Mount Athos

The head of the Phanar blessed a joint pilgrimage to Mount Athos by Roman Catholic and Orthodox bishops.

UOC Kryvyi Rih Eparchy marks 30th anniversary

Metropolitan Yefrem led the anniversary Divine Liturgy in Kryvyi Rih.

Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”

The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”

Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl

UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.

Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom

The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.

Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million

Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.