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Archbishop of UOC-KP strongly condemns Russia for banning Jehovah's Witnesses

21.04.2017, 11:50
Archbishop of UOC-KP strongly condemns Russia for banning Jehovah's Witnesses - фото 1
Head of Chernihiv Diocese of the UOC-KP Archbishop Yevstratii (Zorya) commented on banning Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. Archbishop says that one might disagree the dogmatic teaching of “witnesses” but hanging a label “extremists” as it did in Russia, is unacceptable. Archbishop of Chernihiv said on his Facebook page.

Head of Chernihiv Diocese of the UOC-KP Archbishop Yevstratii (Zorya) commented on banning Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. Archbishop says that one might disagree the dogmatic teaching of “witnesses” but hanging a label “extremists” as it did in Russia, is unacceptable. Archbishop of Chernihiv said on his Facebook page.

Yevstratii (Zorya) believes that the Russian court has not provided any evidence of extremism of this organization. Alongside, the clergyman is not sympathetic with any doctrine or practice of the totalitarian organization.

"The Bible, which the witnesses cite the most often to prove controversial points in teaching is their own “translation” "adjusted for such purposes. Magazines "Watchtower" and "Awake!" with the explanation of their doctrine, in fact, replace the Bible itself even in its corrected version,” the hierarch says.

 

Chernihiv diocese leader adds that in his view the founders of Jehovism Russell and Rutherford were “talented deceivers.” The hierarch believes that the prohibition of “witnesses” is dictated not by their violation of law, but by the antipathy of the authorities.

 

In the world, there are many sects and doctrines that encourage and urge their followers to commit crime, including terrorism. But in any democratic country, they are banned by the court on the evidence of criminal activity.

 

“For me, this is a key point in relation to the ban of Jehovists in Russia: they not banned for violating laws (even such discrimination as present in Russia), but only because their teachings and practices are unsympathetic government and in order to intimidate the rest non-official denominations. In this manner tomorrow they may prohibit anyone ranging from “alternative Orthodox” to Roman Catholics,” the archbishop concludes.