Orthodox Reflections

OR Staff: Since we called attention to the upcoming Zelensky dinner and award abomination in New York, supporters of the event have sought to defend it by minimizing the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to them, hardly anything is happening. Reports of persecution are sneeringly referred to as “Russian propaganda.” Below are some of the latest updates from Ukraine detailing the ongoing persecution. This is is only a sample. We could fill dozens of pages with reports of serious crimes against UOC property, activities, monks, clergy, bishops, and laity.

Note that many of the links are to Telegram channels, which may require a desktop or mobile app to view. We highly encourage everyone to share this information, to follow the Save the UOC site, and to sign the petition protesting giving Zelensky an award in NYC.

Law enforcement authorities carried out the seizure of the St. Michael’s Monastery of the UOC in Pereiaslav

Early in the morning, police officers, special forces units, and representatives of the reserve administration surrounded the monastery territory. Believers who attempted to protect the monastery were forcibly driven away from the entrance gates. The locks were then broken, after which museum officials entered the monastery buildings to conduct an inventory of church property.

https://t.me/pravoslavie/70242

It has also been reported that Reserve employees cut off the locks and took control of the Conception of St. Anne Church located in the Far Caves of the Lower Lavra.

These actions are especially alarming because legal proceedings between the Monastery and the Reserve concerning the use of the Lavra’s churches and premises are still ongoing, and no final judicial rulings have yet been issued in these disputes.

Any attempts to alter the use or control of churches and monastery premises while court proceedings remain unresolved should be carried out strictly within the framework of the law, with full respect for the rule of law and the judicial process.

Particular concern is caused by the manner in which the Reserve employees acted: without prior notice or official communication, and taking advantage of the absence of people inside the premises, they broke the locks, occupied the church, and deprived the Monastery of access to the holy site. Only afterward were letters sent to the Monastery claiming that the monks had voluntarily removed their belongings.

Such actions undermine respect for the judicial process and deeply offend believers for whom the holy sites of the Lavra possess immense spiritual importance.

https://t.me/nikita_chekman/1071

For more documentary evidence, please contact:

Robert Amsterdam
Email: contact@amsterdamandpartners.com
Secure line: +1 202-301-8811

The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience Has Given the Pochaiv Lavra 30 Days to Sever Ties with Moscow

The persecution of Christians continues.

The Ukrainian state has baselessly declared the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to be part of the Russian Orthodox Church. Court proceedings are currently underway in connection with this unfounded accusation.