By Thanos Chrysanthopoulos | Romfea.News
The Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine has passed the law on changing the jurisdiction of religious communities, which can now officially deprive the Ukrainian Church-Moscow Patriarchate of its churches.
According to TV channel 112 Ukraine, the decision was voted by 229 MPs, when at least 226 votes are needed.
It is worth noting that the law provides that the parishes have the right to change the jurisdiction of the religious communities, by modifying the statute and at least two thirds of the flock voting for it.
The decision to change the jurisdiction of the religious communities will be handed over to the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko for the final signature.
Moscow’s first reaction
The Moscow Patriarchate responded immediately to the decision of the Ukrainian Parliament, through a statement by the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk.
Metropolitan Hilarion described the bill as “legitimized theft,” which, as he said, “is done, having full support of the State, under the guise of words like tolerance, freedom, independence.”
Also, the Russian Metropolitan said that these actions are a blatant intervention by the State in the Church affairs.
Finally, the Metropolitan of Volokolamsk said that Petro Poroshenko intervened in the church life of Ukraine, having the support of a small group of schismatics, but without the consent of the Ukrainian people.