Synod of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia supported the UOC

On September 3, 2024, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia issued a statement in which it expressed support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The Synod of the OCCLS stated that democratic countries cannot adopt laws aimed at prohibiting the activities of religious organizations. The statement was published on the Facebook page of one of the dioceses of the Church.

“We are saddened by the news that on August 20, 2024, the Ukrainian parliament approved a draft law whose main purpose is to ban the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We are shocked that such a law was adopted by the legislative body of a democratic state, which should be the main guarantor of respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms. Many times in its history, the Orthodox Church has experienced moments that can be described in the words of the Psalms: “Princes persecute me for no reason, and my heart trembles at your word” (Psalm 118:161). We are convinced that even now God will not leave his faithful people without help, and the words of Scripture will be fulfilled again: “In my distress I cried out to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and delivered me“ (Psalm 117:5),” — the statement reads.

In addition, the OCCLS added that they express their support for the UOC and its Primate and join the critical assessment of the “Law on the Prohibition of the UOC”, which has already been expressed by the Serbian, Antiochian, Albanian, Bulgarian, Jerusalem Orthodox Churches, Pope Francis, the Armenian Apostolic Church, other Christian Churches, as well as the World Council of Churches.

“We express our support to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, as well as to the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Apostle Paul said: “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). We do not forget these words and pray for God’s help and salvation of all those who are persecuted and suffering,” — the document says.

Earlier, the Jerusalem Patriarchate published an open appeal in which it raised the issue of the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of an anti-church law aimed at banning the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Jerusalem Patriarchate criticized the legislative initiative to ban the UOC, calling for no restrictions on freedom of faith and confession.