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Patriarch Filaret: Violence Against Peaceful Demonstration Is a Sin

10.12.2013, 11:46
Patriarch Filaret: Violence Against Peaceful Demonstration Is a Sin - фото 1
The church urges the authorities to prevent violence against peaceful demonstrations and not to shed blood. Because it is a sin, and the authorities profess Orthodox Christianity.

9e1609c7142-f.jpgThe church urges the authorities to prevent violence against peaceful demonstrations and not to shed blood. Because it is a sin, and the authorities profess Orthodox Christianity, Patriarch Filaret said in an interview with Radio Liberty.

“The fact is that the church must always stand on the side of truth. If the government acts unjustly, the church cannot support a lie. If the government is righteous, of course, the church supports the truth and as a result maintains the government. We are not against the government, but we are against the fact that the government did not sign the agreement. We are against the fact that the government did not allow Ukraine to go to the EU. The government says it's not definite. The people do not believe it, and therefore they demonstrate,” he said.

The patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate said that the protesters behave peacefully and that the clashes are provoked by people who have been hired to trigger a violent intervention.

“The whole world knows that the demonstrators did not use any violence against the government,” said the hierarch

The Primate of the Kyiv Patriarchate also noted that the protesters legally occupied the buildings of the Kyiv City Council and the House of Trade Unions.

“If the demonstrators are currently on the premises of the City Council, they do not impede the work of the Kyiv authorities. They're just there to warm up. Just as in the House of Trade Unions. For the same reason they went to St. Michael's Monastery and the church opened its doors to them. Why? So that they could warm up and spend the night. The monks fed them and gave the tea. And this example of the monastery and the presence of the demonstrators in the city council and the House of Trade Unions is for rest and that is all. It is not to seize, it is not a coup,” he said.

Patriarch Filaret said that the church will pray for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and is ready to call on both sides to negotiate.

“The church, first of all, prays and will pray. This is its calling – to pray to God so that the He will bring peace and harmony. In addition, the church can call opposing forces to dialogue. In addition, the church may call on the European countries to resume negotiations on the signing of an agreement to join the EU. When Ukraine will enter the EU, then everything will stop. Then Russia will not exert its pressure, because it will be too late. Ukraine will break from the Customs Union,” said the Primate of the Kyivan Patriarchate.