The hierarch of the Phanar in the U.S. criticized the Ukrainian anti-church law No. 3894 banning the UOC

The head of the Archdiocese of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the United States, Archbishop Elpidophoros, has reiterated his concern over Ukrainian Law No. 3894, saying it poses a threat to the religious freedom of millions of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This position was voiced in the context of a meeting between Orthodox Christians and US lawmakers in Washington, DC.

According to the SPJ in the US, the archbishop referred to the official statement adopted by the Assembly of Bishops in the US on September 15, 2024. Emphasizing the permanence of its position, he quoted a key fragment of the document:

“In the interest of religious freedom and the rule of law, we pray that Ukrainian Law No. 3894 will not be used to persecute any religious groups in Ukraine, which would threaten the religious freedom of millions of its citizens.”

In addition, according to Archbishop Elpidophoros, the Assembly’s statement prays “for a peaceful resolution to this aggression that will ensure respect for civil and human rights of all Ukrainians.”

As a reminder, the day before, a delegation of Orthodox clergy met with U.S. Congressman Daryl Issa in Washington, D.C., to discuss the situation around the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The main topic of the dialog was the ongoing religious persecution of believers.