OCU archbishop in Crimea: newly elected authorities must continue the course of reinforcing Ukraine
Occupiers in Crimea are trying to destroy the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – the only stronghold of Ukrainians, preserved since 2014 events. At the same time, the new government should continue the course for the reinforcement of Ukraine because independence came at a very high price. The attacks on the Orthodox Church of Ukraine on the occupied peninsula are not only a blow to religious freedom. Archbishop Klyment of the Crimean Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine stressed it in an interview with the Voice of America.
He added that it is a blow to the inhabitants of the peninsula, who identify themselves as Ukrainians. However, Klyment says that he will not stop his activities – even despite the destruction of the Church, eviction from the premises and the real threat of arrest. He says he's ready to serve even on the street if he had to.
People come to Church, there is no fear. There was fear in 2014-2015. Then there was uncertainty. People did not know what to do, how, where to go or stay in Crimea. Now, thank God, the situation in 2015 was relatively calm, people come, pray, to large celebrations of up to 3,000 people come during the festive worship – said Klyment.
The Archbishop also noted that even many Russian-speaking people who came to the occupied peninsula from Russia go to church.
"They like the peace that reigns in the Church because we do not engage in politics, we are not campaigning for anyone, we pray to God," he explained.
At the same time, Klyment appealed to the new Ukrainian authorities and stressed – "they must understand the power in which country they want to be."Archbishop Klyment stressed that Ukrainians have great roots and a terrible history. We have paid a very high price for independence and now we are paying it, so we cannot neglect it.
If in the state of Ukraine, they should, first of all, keep what has been done and saved since 2014. Then, if the new power has any claims to the old power, they should not criticize, not destroy, but correct and continue the course for the establishment of Ukraine as the state which would be respected and appreciated all over the world," the Archbishop added.
The so-called court in the occupied Crimea decided to withdraw from the Crimean Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine its main temple – the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr and Olha in Simferopol. The building should be transferred to the use of the so-called Ministry of Property in the Russian government. In addition, the Crimean Diocese of the OCU must also pay court fees in the amount of RUR 12,000 (about UAH 5,000). This was reported by 24 channel.
