The tacit consent of the leadership of the Lviv region, and sometimes the participation of officials and bodies in violation of the rights of religious communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, entails a real threat to the lives and health of priests and believers. Metropolitan Filaret of Lviv and Galicia wrote about this in an appeal to the head of the regional military state administration, the head of the Regional National Police Headquarters and the head of the local SBU, writes Pershiy Kozatsky.

“During the war, it is very important to have unity in the fight against the aggressor… Therefore, we appeal to the leadership of the Lviv region to take all necessary measures to protect the rights of believers, clergy and religious communities of the Lviv diocese of the UOC, and stop inciting religious hatred.”

The Metropolitan drew attention to the fact that in some areas of the region the rights of believers, clergymen and communities of the UOC are violated with the participation of officials and local governments who go beyond their powers and make illegal decisions to ban the activities of the Church.

In his address, Vladyka cited examples of church seizures, blatant attacks on believers and clergy, and direct threats with weapons in the hands of parishioners and the Church.

“Unfortunately, on the territory of Galicia, where European principles of the existence of society are professed, religious persecution takes place, people are forbidden to pray without any legal grounds, churches are taken away, closed or burned,” the bishop stated.

He drew attention to the fact that cases of persecution of the clergy and laity of the UOC are a criminal offense, therefore he called on the authorities and law enforcement officers to protect the rights of the believers of the diocese and stop inciting interreligious hatred.