The court hearing on banning the UOC will take place sooner than the Church hopes, - the head of the DESS

The head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) claims that if the Ukrainian Orthodox Church does not comply with the state’s demands and does not sever ties with the Moscow Patriarchate by August 24, the State Service will file a lawsuit to completely ban the UOC. At the same time, the official claims that court proceedings on this matter will take place much faster than the UOC expects. He said this on the air of Telemarathon, Ukrinform reports.

According to Yelensky, the DESS decree stipulates that the UOC must leave the Russian Orthodox Church, including parishes, monasteries, diocesan administrations, and spiritual educational institutions. In addition, the church must officially declare that the 2017 statute of the Russian Orthodox Church is not valid for it and that it does not agree with the annexation of its dioceses by Russia and the actions of the occupying forces.

The head of the DESS noted that if the order is not fulfilled by August 24, the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC may be recognized as affiliated with the ROC, which is banned in Ukraine, and a lawsuit may be filed to terminate it.

He noted that the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has not yet sent an official letter to the DESS, but a statement on the church’s official website says that they do not intend to comply with the state’s demand. At the same time, Yelensky expressed hope “for the goodwill of the majority of the clergy of the UOC-MP and believers who understand the baseness of such a position.”

“The second step is to file a lawsuit to terminate the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. These are the steps dictated to us by the law,” — he replied when asked what would happen next.

Earlier, Yulia Klymenko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament from the Voice party, expressed her opinion on why the state has not yet banned the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In her opinion, the Cabinet of Ministers and the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience are to blame for the delay in banning the UOC.