The Church of Albania has reiterated its support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (under the Moscow Patriarchate) and Metropolitan Onufriy, while condemning what it describes as the “persecution” faced by the “canonical” Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
In a statement released ahead of Christmas, the Church of Albania emphasized the urgent need to end civil strife in Ukraine and reaffirmed its prayerful solidarity with Ukrainian Orthodox believers.
“Persecution, imprisonment, sacrilege of places of worship, and confiscation of property of churches and monasteries are brutal actions,” the statement declared. “These actions become even more brutal when imposed by the legislatures of democratic countries.” The Church specifically criticized Ukraine’s recent Law 8371, enacted on August 24, 2024, which it claims aims to abolish the “canonical” Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
The Church of Albania expressed concern for the millions of Ukrainian Orthodox faithful, clergy, and monastics under Metropolitan Onufriy, stating that they face “a flagrant violation of their religious rights.”
The statement avoided addressing the plight of members of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which has suffered significantly due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine since February 2022. Moreover, the Church of Albania did not criticize the Russian invasion or the Moscow Patriarchate’s endorsement of the war.
Instead, the Church used the opportunity to reiterate its opposition to the autocephaly granted to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It described this process as divisive and previously published similar criticisms against both the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Ukrainian legislation, which it views as persecuting the “canonical” Church led by Metropolitan Onufriy.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
