UOC responds to media fake news about church activities abroad

Clergy of the Western European Vicariate of the UOC. Photo: vzcz.church.ua

The Western European Vicariate has called on media representatives and certain religious figures to refrain from spreading misinformation and artificially casting UOC believers as enemies, as well as from creating issues and threats to the state where none exist. The Department for External Church Relations (DECR) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) published a statement regarding false and defamatory information about the activities of UOC parishes abroad.

The UOC reminded the public that the activities of its religious communities abroad are conducted in accordance with the decision of the UOC Council on 27 May 2022. Foreign parishes are under the jurisdiction of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

"Such a decision has been taken given the fact that among the refugees, there are a lot of UOC believers, who are full-fledged citizens of Ukraine and have the right to satisfy their religious needs, including abroad.," the statement reads.

The Vicariate emphasized that the primary purpose of these parishes is spiritual and pastoral. Believers maintain a connection with Ukraine, support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, raise funds for fellow citizens affected by the war, and organize spiritual, educational, and cultural events to promote Ukrainian culture.

"We also establish good relationships with state authorities and religious organizations in host countries, contributing to the positive image of Ukraine abroad," the DECR UOC noted. "This is confirmed by representatives of European religious communities themselves. For instance, German Catholic theologian T. Bremer stated that UOC parishes in Germany 'are an important spiritual and humanitarian anchor for many refugees. They are to a large degree publicly open and in contact with humanitarian and ecclesial institutions in Germany and they do not pose any security risk to Ukrainian refugees and European societies." They inform the public about the realities of Russian aggression and its devastating consequences for the Ukrainian people.' Similarly, German Protestant theologian Dr. D. Heller, who is well-acquainted with UOC communities in Germany, observed: 'I have never seen nor heard any pro-Russian propaganda in these communities. On the contrary: the war against Ukraine was clearly condemned.'"

However, as the statement noted, UOC parishes abroad often face hostility from certain Ukrainian religious organizations.

The Vicariate called allegations that UOC parishes are allegedly funded by Russian money outright slander and falsehoods. They emphasized that the establishment and functioning of these church communities are supported by the believers themselves, with clergy often combining their service with secular jobs.

The statement also mentioned that the UOC has repeatedly reached out to Ukrainian embassies and central authorities in Kyiv with proposals for cooperation but has yet to receive a response.

"In our parishes, we constantly pray for our Motherland – Ukraine. We are not excess Ukrainians, we are also part of our people, with whom we are sharing the sufferings from the war and are fighting our common enemy together," UOC parishes abroad reiterated.

They also addressed the media and individuals spreading false information, urging them "not to artificially make enemies out of us, whom we are not, and not to look for problems and dangers for the state where there are none."

As reported by the UOJ, clergy of UOC parishes abroad previously responded to fake news spread by Kovalenko.

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