Holy Synod appeals to authorities to stop persecutions of the Church

At the session of the Holy Synod held on May 27 Archpriests discussed anti-church bills ## 4128 and 4511, as well as blocking of statute registration from by Ministry of Culture. The Synod made a decision to appeal to the authorities to stop discrimination of the Church. It is reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

By its decision of May 27, 2017 (Journals No.10, No. 11), the Synod stated that the adoption of draft laws No. 4128 and No. 4511 could lead to religious hostility, discrimination, violation of freedom of conscience and religion. The Synod also stressed that the interference of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine in the work of regional state administrations with the aim of blocking the registration of statutes of the UOC religious communities is unacceptable.

The Archpastors thanked all the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for their active Christian position expressed on May 18, 2017 during the joint prayer near the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and in many cities and temples throughout Ukraine.