The issue of persecution against the UOC was raised at an interreligious forum in Germany

Archbishop Tikhon of Ruzsk has told participants in an interreligious forum in Germany about persecution against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, pravoslavie.ru has reported.

The archbishop said that representatives of the UOC are now being persecuted on far-fetched charges. In particular, he cited the arrest of Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn as an example.

«Among the absurd charges brought against Metropolitan Jonathan — an elderly, seriously ill man — are ‘actions aimed at violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or seizure of state power’, as well as ‘encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine’,» the archbishop said.

«The arrest of Metropolitan Jonathan is another act of blatant violation of religious freedom and an example of persecution of the faith,» Archbishop Tikhon emphasized. — The lawlessness committed has already provoked a protest reaction from religious leaders.»

Archbishop Tikhon also drew the attention of those present to the fact that many representatives of Churches from around the world and a number of representatives of the international political and social communities spoke in defense of the hierarch.

«Given the orientation of the current peaceful meeting of representatives of religions and cultures on dialogue and mutual understanding, we urge the participants of the forum to join the voice of church, political and social figures and to speak in defense of Metropolitan Jonathan and at the same time — in defense of religious rights and freedoms of believers in Ukraine», — called Archbishop Tikhon of Ruzsk Tikhon.