Confrontation in the Center of Kyiv: Clergymen of Various Denominations Are on Maidan
About one o'clock on December 11 security forces began removing the barricades that had been placed by the protesters near the Maidan (Independence Square) in Kyiv. People defended the protesters’ camp. By morning, their number had increased to about 15,000.
The Permanent Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), headed by Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuhk, expressed concern about the actions of the security forces on Independence Square on the night of December 10 to 11, 2013. UGCC bishops expressed their support and solidarity with the protesters and condemned the actions aimed at restricting civil rights.
Bishop Gudziak addressed the officers of the riot police Berkut: “Boys, listen to me, do not sin. Consider what you will say to your children and grandchildren. There is nothing worse than killing your brother, nothing worse than Cain's sin,” said the bishop during morning prayers.
Regarding the events on Maidan during the night on December 11 Patriarch Filaret of Ukrainian Orthodox Church said: “The use of force to restrict the constitutional rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression and opinion that the whole world witnessed last night is unacceptable. The existing political and social crisis must not be resolved by these methods, which will only lead to increased tension. The consequence of force can only be a radicalization of the protest and the slide of our country into full-scale civil conflict.”
The community of the Ukrainian Catholic University calls for civil disobedience against the president and his government, and with together with Euromaidan demand the immediate resignation of the current government, the formation of an interim government, and the declaration of early elections.
