by Romfea.news
Metropolitan Epiphanius of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine will address the United Nations and the European Union conserning the persecutions of the Communities and the priests in Donetsk and Donbass regions.
In a statement, Metropolitan Epiphanius expressed his concern about the Communities, while underlining that in Donbass and Donetsk the rights of clergy and believers are being violated.
Metropolitan Epiphanius also stressed that “there is a threat of total deportation of the clergy and of a mass forfeiture of 36 churches in the beginning of March.”
“Given this threat, I will appeal to the United Nations, the OSCE, the European Union and, in general, all the democratic countries and international organizations on which final decisions and measures depend,” Metropolitan Epiphanius said in his statement.
See the entire letter of Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kiev
Over the past five years, the situation with the observance of the right to freedom of conscience and religion in certain districts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine (the so-called “DNR” and “LNR”) is constantly deteriorating. In particular, in the occupied territories of Donbass, the rights of believers, religious communities and clerics of the Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church are systematically violated. This is manifested in systematic persecution, mistreatment, arrests, seizure of churches, and so on.
However, if so far there has been a significant restriction and violation of rights, now, from March 1, 2019, there is a threat of full prohibition of the activities of communities and clerics of our Church, complete confiscation of community property and the deportation of priests from the so-called “DPR” territory.
The reason for this is the unlawful requirement for communities to “register according to the laws of the republic”. Such a requirement can not be fulfilled, because the structure that issued such a “law” is not recognized by the state.
In this regard, since March 2, 36 temples and premises, as well as the diocesan House of Mercy, belonging to the communities of our Church in separate temporarily occupied regions of the Donetsk region, may be “confiscated in favour of the republic”, and priests may be deported.
Taking into consideration this threat, we appeal to the United Nations Organisation, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the guarantors of “Minsk Process,” the European Union and, in general, all democratic countries, international and interdenominational institutions, to address those , on whom depends the adoption of final decisions in the matter raised and to take measures to prevent the catastrophic development of events.
We also ask everyone to pray about the communities and clergy of our Church in the occupied territories of the Donbas and for all those who suffer from captivity.
Epiphaniy
Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine