Metropolitan Clement: UOC did not receive any comments or accusations from SBU

Metropolitan Clement (Vecheria) of Nizhyn and Pryluky. Photo: facebook.com/pravoslavie

The Politics of the Country Telegram channel published a commentary by the Chairman of the Synodal Information and Education Department of the UOC, Metropolitan Clement (Vecheria) regarding the events that the SBU held on November 22 in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and other monasteries.

“Firstly, I want to clarify that there were no searches in the Lavra. There were no criminal prerequisites for this. The Security Service of Ukraine itself emphasized that it did not carry out searches, but security-related activities within the framework of the tasks assigned to this organization. If you look at the website of the service, you can often see a report on similar events in various organizations there. The actions of the law enforcement agencies were correct and did not cause any comments from the monks and believing visitors of the Lavra. It is no secret that today some politicians or individuals who have lost their ratings and have appropriated the title of ‘public activist’ unfoundedly accuse our Church of absolutely absurd things. The fact that yesterday’s events confirmed the absence of weapons or militants in the monastery should entail a public apology from those who openly and unfoundedly stated this in the media,” said Metropolitan Clement.

Vladyka also added that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church had always acted exclusively within the framework of the legislative field of Ukraine.

"Yesterday's events have become a manifestation of a constructive approach on the part of the SBU in relation to the religious sphere, the purpose of which is not populism, but concern for state security," said the Chairman of the Synodal Information and Education Department.

In addition, Metropolitan Clement of Nizhyn and Pryluky commented on the actions of the SBU in other eparchies of the UOC.

“As far as I know, in other areas, the SBU events on the territory of the monasteries were just as calm and constructive. There were no comments or accusations against representatives of religious organizations from power structures. The Holy Lavra continues to live a normal life: divine services are performed daily there with a prayer for the people, authorities and the army of Ukraine, the monks continuously read the Psalter about health and repose around the clock, pilgrims visit the holy caves to pray before the incorruptible relics of the saints – at the moment everything is as usual," said the hierarch of the UOC.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the SBU told about the results of searches in the monasteries and eparchies of the UOC.

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