Zaporizhzhia Eparchy clergy address believers concerning Law 8371

Zaporizhzhia Diocesan Assembly. Photo: Zaporizhzhia Eparchy of the UOC

At the Protection of the Theotokos Cathedral in Zaporizhzhia, the Diocesan Assembly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of the Zaporizhzhia Diocese took place to discuss the law "On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Field of Activities of Religious Organizations", recently adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, according to the diocese's press service. The assembly, chaired by Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol, was attended by 216 delegates, including clergy, monastics, and laypeople.

In his report, Metropolitan Luke emphasized that despite the newly adopted law, the Church's mission remains unchanged – to lead people to God. He urged believers not to become embittered but to endure trials while maintaining love and peace: “The Church always views all earthly phenomena and processes from one perspective: whether it benefits or harms the soul of a person.”

The authors of the resolution called on believers “to firmly stand in faith and adhere to canonical tradition, to obey the Church leadership, to strengthen prayer and fasting, and to be resolute in defending their constitutional rights and freedoms,” and to protect their churches within the legal framework.

The participants of the assembly urged representatives of Local Churches “to raise their voices in defense of the UOC from religious terror and genocide, as well as from the destruction of Orthodoxy in Ukraine” and called on members of the Verkhovna Rada who did not support the law to “appeal to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine regarding the constitutionality of this law.” They also urged international human rights organizations and the global community to “pay attention to and provide a proper legal assessment of the discriminatory policies against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church”.

As reported by the UOJ, Metropolitan Luke wrote a letter to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry regarding unity with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

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