Metropolitan Luka of Zaporozhye addressed the head of the US State Department with the words that “ignoring the problem of violations of the fundamental rights of believers of the UOC calls into question the true commitment of the American authorities and the US Democratic Party to the idea of protecting the rights and freedoms of a persecuted person or social group.” This is reported by Pravblog.

“Today, our entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church is on the verge of terrible trials. We are talking about an attempt to liquidate it and forcibly include it in an organization called the OCU,” the hierarch said.

He added that as part of the implementation of this task, the Church is under unprecedented pressure at all levels.

“So, in 2022 alone, with the direct support of the local authorities, 250 churches of the UOC were seized. This year, the raiding continued. Temples in Khmelnitsky, Chernivtsi, Kiev and other regions of Ukraine are being seized daily. Our believers are injured, they are beaten, poisoned with tear gas “, are subjected to all sorts of bullying and attacks. Supporters of the OCU have begun to use physical violence against our bishops. In fact, entire dioceses of our Church are being destroyed,” the bishop said.

Metropolitan Luka also noted that officials are going to take away from our Church the main Orthodox shrines of Ukraine – the Pochaev and Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (some churches of the latter have already been illegally transferred for use by supporters of the OCU). A blow was also dealt to the administrative mechanism of the UOC. In particular, decisions were made on house arrests of some, the imposition of sanctions on others, the deprivation of citizenship of third bishops of our Church, which is the rationale for their further deportation.

“In light of this, frankly speaking, we are discouraged by the silence of the American authorities. After all, the platform of the Democratic Party, like the current US government, is to protect freedom in all its manifestations. Especially when it comes to a fundamental right – the right to freedom of conscience,” – stressed the hierarch of the UOC.

He reminded the head of the State Department of his words from a speech on May 12, 2021:

“Our country’s commitment to protecting freedom of religion and belief goes back several centuries. We are faithful to her today. Freedom of religion, like any human right, is universal. All people have the right to this, regardless of where they live, what they believe or don’t believe.”

The bishop stressed that if this is the position of the State Department, then why is the American government silent? Why is this silence actually betraying the values of democracy? Democracy, on which the international authority of the United States is cemented?

“Dear Mr. Blinken! We very much hope that you, as the head of the State Department, will not only pay attention to the egregious facts of violations of fundamental human rights in Ukraine, but will also take appropriate steps within your competence (in particular, in support of the officials who spoke against violating the Constitution of Ukraine and in defense of Orthodox believers in the Zaporozhye region.) After all, ignoring this problem may cast doubt on the true commitment of the authorities and the US Democratic Party to the idea of protecting the rights and freedoms of a persecuted person or social group,” Metropolitan Luka said.

He assured that, in turn, he was ready “to provide you and your department with all the necessary evidence of the relevant violations.