By Kostas Onisenko
The accusations leveled by the Moscow Patriarchate against the Church of Ukraine for allegedly seizing temples by representatives of the Russian Church in Ukraine are completely unfounded, which is proven not only legally but also by a court decision of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.
This was stated in today’s announcement of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
On April 6, the first of about 100 court cases in which the Moscow Patriarchate is turning against the Orthodox Church of Ukraine for “transfer” of parishes to the Local Autocephalous Church was heard at the highest level.
The announcement of the Church of Ukraine emphasized that there can be no talk of alleged seizure of temples of the Russian Church as under Ukrainian law, the temples do not belong to the Church but to each parish separately.
The decision to join the Church of Ukraine belongs to the parishes and is taken after a general assembly of parishioners.
This possibility of transition was even confirmed by the decision of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, taken on April 6.
At the same time, the interventions made by the “minorities” who support staying in the Russian Church, are contrary to Ukrainian law.
These individuals even deny the possibility provided to them by the Church of Ukraine to ensure their peace, to perform their religious duties in the same places at different times.
The Church of Ukraine invites the heads of the Moscow Patriarchate to a productive dialogue and recognition of the Tomos of Autocephaly of the Church of Ukraine, the statement said.
