Metropolitan Mark of Berlin on Bill 8371: The picture of a century ago is repeating itself, the Soviet Union is repeating itself

Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany made a statement on the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the first reading of the government bill 8371 on the ban of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

«The Kiev government and the Rada are conducting against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church exactly the same game with «loyalty» and «loyal priests», as Trotsky and Lenin agreed in March 1922, and as Stalin then used it through the «Declaration of Loyalty» (1927) of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky)», — Metropolitan Mark noted.

He added that «now Patriarch Bartholomew accuses the hierarchs of the UOC and (just as Metropolitan Sergius did then) claims that the persecuted are indeed lawbreakers and are justly persecuted. Also in those times Constantinople in favor of Lenin and Stalin actively supported the «Renovationists» who pursued a pro-Soviet policy, which suited the then rulers».

«The picture of a century ago is repeated. With regard to freedom of faith and confession, only contempt and gross violation of elementary rights reign here. The Soviet Union is repeating itself, only under a different sign», — the hierarch said.

Metropolitan Mark also appealed «to the conscience of all those who can influence directly on the development of events,» calling on them to «turn away the persecution of the Church in the land of Ukraine, and all others to spiritually support with their prayers the paths of truth.»