UOC hierarch to authorities: We are treated like second-class people

Archbishop Pimen with monastics of the Rivne diocese. Photo: Rivne Church YouTube channel screenshot

On March 24, 2023, in an address to the Ukrainian authorities, Archbishop Pimen of Rivne and Ostroh stated that the believers of the UOC in Ukraine are treated as second-class people.

In an address on behalf of the monastics of the Rivne diocese to the President, ministers and all those “on whom the religious peace in our country depends”, Archbishop Pimen said that today the believers of the UOC are being subjected to undue pressure, their religious feelings are slurred, while they themselves are treated in Ukraine as second class people.

“The legislation of our state clearly prescribes respect for every believer. But now we see how they want to close the shrines of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, take them away and do not allow to pray, and people, who come to their seized church, find it locked and do not have the opportunity to enter there to pray,” the hierarch said.

He noted that now they want to eject monasteries, “in particular, the Kyiv Caves Lavra, referring to us as agents of Russia or enemies of the people.”

However, the hierarch emphasized that the monastics of the UOC are citizens of Ukraine, but first of all, they are “citizens of heaven and citizens of the Kingdom of God, because their soul, their conscience called them to this when they chose the monastic path.”

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that according to Archbishop Pimen, the UOC is fought by those “heroes” who fear going to the front line.

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