His Beatitude Onufry blesses clerics to seek legal remedies

Primate of the UOC His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine

On December 28, 2018, during the eparchial meeting of the clergy of the Kiev eparchy, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine urged the clergy of the UOC to contact the Legal Department of the Church in case of pressure from the authorities.

"I call your attention! If any illegal actions are committed at parishes or monasteries entrusted to you, or you become aware of the interference of unauthorized persons in the community’s church life, you should immediately report such cases to the Legal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” the UOC Information and Education Department cites the Primate’s words.

His Beatitude Onufry noted that for the pressure on the Church, the OCU supporters use all the levers of influence available to them.

“Your families and relatives, philanthropists of temples are being intimidated, while attractive offers also sound. An example of such obvious pressure was the recent inspections of the property of the Kiev-Pechersk and Pochaev Lavras, the groundless search of the subsidiary farm of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra,” said the Primate of the UOC.

His Beatitude noted that in such a situation, the lawyers of the Legal Department will necessarily provide legal support and advise on how to act properly in such circumstances.

“Only together, with the general support of each other, fraternal mutual assistance, we will be able to withstand the present trials,” concluded His Beatitude Onufry.

He urged the clergy not to speak out on political topics and reminded that the Church of Christ is out of politics. The Primate of the UOC also asked to sensitize the parishioners on the current situation.

His Beatitude Onufry urged clerics and laity to pray and respond with love to hatred, not using the methods of the anti-UOC forces.

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