Filaret announces a UOC-KP protection forum and aims to turn to UN and OSCE
Filaret Denisenko. Photo: Getty Images / Global Images Ukraine
On December 20, 2019, Forum “In Defense of the Kiev Patriarchate” will be held in the Ukrainian House in Kiev, said “patriarch” Filaret Denisenko at a press conference on Friday, Interfax reports.
According to Filaret, the theme of the announced forum is “for Ukrainian, for the Kiev Patriarchate”. He noted that it is necessary to defend the Kiev Patriarchate, since "forces – both external and internal – are aimed at its destruction."
The head of the UOC-KP said that the forum participants would appeal to the people, "but, in addition, we also turn to the President as the guarantor of the Constitution to preserve religious freedom in Ukraine."
“Since there is a freedom of belief in Ukraine, the Kiev Patriarchate cannot be deregistered,” he stressed, adding that removing the UOC-KP from registration was illegal.
The “patriarch” also said that the UOC-KP intends to seek help from the world community, in particular the OSCE and the UN, “in order to protect our religious rights” and return the registration to the Kiev Patriarchate.
“We request the Ministry of Culture to return this registration to us and ask the president to contribute to the rule of law,” he added.
As reported by the UOJ, on December 14, 2019, the final liquidation of the UOC-KP and UAOC was announced at the "Bishops' Council" of the OCU.
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.