Participants of an international conference in Bulgaria have submitted a letter to the Ukrainian Embassy demanding an end to the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

In Bulgaria 26 August 2024 on the initiative of the international forum of Orthodox women (informal group) and the Center for geostrategic studies from Belgrade, an international conference entitled: Blockade of Aggression on the Church – Defense of Orthodoxy was organized. The conference discussed the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the attacks on Orthodox Holy Sites in Palestine, the persecution of clergy and the abduction of churches in Kosovo and Metohija, the destructive influence of external forces on orthodoxy, etc.

Read more about the conference at International Conference in Bulgaria: blockade of aggression against the church – defense of orthodoxy - Center for geostrategic studies (geostrategy.rs)

Metropolitan Luka Zaporozhsky drew the attention of the international public to the destructive influences in Ukraine that affect the attitude towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church: "The current situation requires the revision of political approaches to religious issues and the strengthening of guarantees of freedom of religion in Ukraine. It is important that the rhetoric of hatred and discrimination in relation to the UPC does not become an instrument of political struggle, but that dialogue and mutual understanding come to the fore, which corresponds to democratic and European values, which, as stated by the Ukrainian authorities, Ukraine seeks to protect and develop.“

The entire presentation of Metropolitan Zaporozhsky Mr. Luke read at Metropolitan of Zaporozhsky Mr. Luka: national security or religious discrimination? The Center for geostrategic studies geostrategy.rs)

Participants of the conference from Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Palestine, Greece, etc., including the spiritual leaders of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, The Bulgarian Orthodox Church and The Jerusalem Orthodox Church, adopted common conclusions from this conference. After the end of the conference, which was held in the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency BTA (National News Agency of Bulgaria), the organizers and participants of the International Conference handed over a letter of requests (conclusions of the conference) to the Embassy of Ukraine in Sofia, which they sent to the ambassador of Ukraine in Bulgaria HE Olesya Ilashchuk.

PHOTO: Participants of the conference in front of the Embassy of Ukraine in Sofia

The letter states: This way the participants of the said conference address you with the request to do everything in your competence to ensure normal living and working conditions for the members of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UPC) in Ukraine.

Our specific requirements relate to the following needs:

1. Ensure the end of the gross violation of European democratic values and freedoms in the form of violation of the fundamental rights of the flock of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
2. To implement the necessary procedural procedures for the abolition of the law on the Prohibition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which aims to destroy the largest confession in Ukraine, violates the Constitution's guaranteed right of citizens to freedom of religion, undermines the principle of autonomy of religious society. and it aims to grossly interfere in the internal activities of the religious organizations of the UOC.
3. Cease the practice of storming the churches of the UOC from "OCU" adherents, members of nationalist organizations, representatives of local authorities, as well as the illegal re-registration of the statute of the UOC communities under the jurisdiction of the "OCU"; bring those responsible for the crimes in question to criminal responsibility.
4. Contribute to the end of the information campaign of discreditation and blackening of the UOC, carried out by the leading media of Ukraine.
5. Ensure the release of bishops and priests of the UOC (especially Metropolitan Arseniy, abbot of svyatogorsk Lavra), who were detained under false pretenses, impartial and objective consideration of court cases of clergy of this religion, strict respect of their rights as citizens of Ukraine.
6. Cease the practice of imprisoning the clergy of the UOC for their subsequent exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war.
7. Lift the illegal sanctions imposed by the decrees of the president of Ukraine against a number of bishops of the UOC.
8. Prohibit the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations of Ukraine from shelling Orthodox churches, as well as from organizing fire positions in them.
9. Stop the implementation of the religious genocide against the UOC because of its spiritual ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (which, in particular, is expressed in the destruction of the figures of Russian saints, the dumping of appropriate icons and church utensils in the trash, the confiscation and renaming of churches named in honor of saints or icons related to the spiritual history of Russia, etc.).
10. Cease political and administrative support of the" OCU", within a framework that weakens and destroys the UOC, as well as violates the rights of its faithful.

Source: Center for Geostrategic Studies

28. August 2024.