Even Khrushchev did not think of passing a law banning the Church - Metropolitan Theodosius

Metropolitan Feodosiy (Snigiryov) of Cherkasy and Kanev reported about the growing international interest in the problems of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He told about this in an interview with UOJ.

«Knowing about the gross violations of religious freedoms in our country, I was approached several times by international human rights organizations with a request to speak at the UN Human Rights Council. They asked me to inform international diplomats firsthand about violations of the rights and freedoms of the UOC believers, to speak as a religious expert, a teacher at the Spiritual Academy and a UOC bishop persecuted for his religious beliefs and canonical position», — the Metropolitan said, commenting on his speech from the rostrum of the United Nations.

In addition, the bishop believes that the persecution of the authorities against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has become known to the world community and this process is only gaining momentum.

«I have no doubt that it (the speech — ed.) will give, and has already given an impetus to the worldwide coverage of the topic of today’s persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. And it seems to me that this case has finally moved from the dead point. Tell me, is it even conceivable in the XXI century in the center of the European continent religious persecution on such a scale, which is now taking place in Ukraine?! This is not even in the heads of normal people. The last time our Church experienced such persecution was during the time of General Secretary Khrushchev. But even Khrushchev did not think of passing a state law banning the Church. And now they are trying to do it here», — says Metropolitan Theodosius.

The hierarch noted that religious persecution is an evil that must be brought to light. «Religious persecution is an unconditional evil. And evil must be fought, it must be brought out into the white light. Evil very much dislikes light and does not like publicity. In the light, evil is forced to squirm, justify itself and retreat,» Metropolitan Theodosius noted.