The Albanian Orthodox Church came out in support of the UOC

The Albanian Orthodox Church has issued a statement in support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The AOC criticized the legislative initiatives of the Ukrainian authorities to ban the UOC and expressed support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in a period of difficult trials. The statement was published on the official website of the Albanian Church.

“On the eve of Christmas, the plea for an end to the civil confrontation in Ukraine is intensifying. The Orthodox Church of Albania persistently reiterates (28.8.2024): “Persecution, imprisonment, desecration of places of worship, confiscation of property of holy churches and monasteries are cruel acts. They become even more heinous when they are introduced by the legislative bodies of democratic countries. The recent law 8371/24.8.2024 of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is clearly aimed at abolishing the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Thus, millions of Ukrainian Orthodox believers, numerous bishops, priests, monks and nuns under the leadership of Metropolitan Onufriy, all members of the “One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church”, are being persecuted. According to the Apostle Paul, “whether anyone suffers in any member, he always sympathizes with the members” (1 Corinthians 12:26), we also sympathize with our brothers and sisters in persecution and pray fervently for an end to the bloody hostilities that affect the entire Ukrainian people without exception, for the abolition of this absurd law, for the reign of peace and the unity of Orthodoxy so that it can live up to its testimony throughout the world,” — the statement reads.

It should be noted that on September 12, 2024, the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church expressed support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church — its Primate, clergy and faithful. The Synod of the MOC criticized the anti-church law adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and called for prayer for a speedy resolution of the Ukrainian church crisis.