Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church's DECR brought information about the persecution of the UOC to the attention of the Turkish government

On July 4, 2024, a meeting of representatives of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Department of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Turkey was held in Istanbul. Among the issues considered at the meeting, the topic of violation of the rights of clergy and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was also raised. This is reported by the communication service of the Russian Orthodox Church’s DECR.

«Metropolitan Anthony in his report mentioned the topics of the religious situation in Ukraine, ways to consolidate religious communities around traditional values, joint opposition to provocations and insults to the feelings of believers. Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk in his speech familiarized the participants with the facts of violation of the rights of believers of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, seizures and desecrations of churches and monasteries in Ukraine, persecution of clergy,» — the report said.

We will remind, earlier we reported that the Turkish government demanded explanations from the organizers of the Ukrainian «Peace Summit», held in Switzerland on June 15-16. In Ankara dissatisfied with the fact that the head of the Patriarchate of Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew participated in the event and put his signature under the final declaration. Later, it became known that the Patriarchate of Constantinople withdrew its signature under the final document of the Ukrainian Peace Summit.