Nachrichten

Ein ukrainisches Appellationsgericht hat eine Klage der Metropolie Kyjiw der Ukrainischen Orthodoxen Kirche (UOK) gegen den Staatsdienst der Ukraine für Ethnopolitik und Gewissensfreiheit und dessen Leiter, Viktor Yelenskyi, teilweise gutgeheißen. Der Staatsdienst habe einen substanziellen Verfahrensfehler begangen, indem er nicht auf ein Statement der Metropolie vom 10. Januar 2023 eingegangen sei. In dem Statement hatte die Metropolie die Zusammensetzung der Expertengruppe kritisiert, die vom…

The Spring Plenary Assembly of COMECE (the Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union) took place in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, from April 21 to 24. Bishop Stepan Sus represented the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church at this event. This was reported by the Pastoral and Migration Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The Assembly addressed several key contemporary challenges, including the situation in the Middle East and the Holy Land, issues rel…

The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO), which includes Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical churches, as well as Jewish and Muslim religious associations, welcomes the bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Congress, “Countering Russia’s War on Faith Act.” This bill proposes the establishment of a mechanism to monitor the actions of the Russian Federation aimed at persecuting, suppressing, and violating the religious freedom of fa…

The Metropolis of Sweden and all Scandinavia of the Patriarchate of Constantinople announced the ordination of two new clergy members, including Fr. Andriy Pinchuk, a former clergyman of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). "Their participation is aimed at further supporting and strengthening the Metropolis's missionary and pastoral ministry across Scandinavia. This voluntary commitment exemplifies a true ecclesiastical ethos and a selfless love for one's neighbor," the Metropolis's statem…

Member states condemned Russia for violating international law, including attacks on World Heritage sites. The UNESCO Executive Board adopted a resolution for an emergency assistance program for Ukraine. This was reported by LB.ua, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. "The member states of the Executive Board have reaffirmed their solidarity with Ukraine in addressing the consequences of Russia's full-scale war against our country. They called on the Director-General of…

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine appreciates the passing of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly resolution on "Countering Discrimination Based on Religion and Protecting Freedom of Religion or Belief in Europe." This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The MFA emphasized that Ukraine is committed to promoting freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, which are fundamental human rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights. Achieving…

Half of the Ukrainians surveyed identify as members of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, while three percent align with the Moscow Patriarchate. A recent survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), reported by Interfax-Ukraine, has revealed insights into religious affiliation in Ukraine. According to the findings, 50% of respondents identify as members of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Additionally, 9% identify as members of the Orthodox Church witho…

Der ukrainische Präsident Volodymyr Zelenskyj hat einen Waffenstillstand über die Osterfeiertage vorgeschlagen. Sein Land sei zu jeder Art von Waffenstillstand bereit, ob vollständig oder in Bezug auf die Energieversorgung oder hinsichtlich Energie und Lebensmittelsicherheit, er hänge nur von Russland ab. Natürlich wären Gespräche über einen dauerhaften Waffenstillstand und ein Ende des Kriegs besser, aber die Ukraine sei zu Kompromissen bereit, außer zu Kompromissen bezüglich ihrer Staatswürde…

Der Apostolische Nuntius in Kyjiw, Erzbischof Visvaldas Kulbokas, hat zu Ostern zu internationaler Solidarität aufgerufen. In einem Interview mit der katholischen Nachrichtenagentur SIR kritisiert Kulbokas die Schwäche der Diplomatie. Es brauche die Stimme des Papstes. Nicht nur in Bezug auf die Ukraine bestehe weltweit die Tendenz, „noch mehr Chaos zu säen als zuvor“. In diesem Chaos seien „neue globale Akteure“ versucht, „auf Atomwaffen zurückzugreifen“, so der Nuntius. In diesem Kontext brau…