Sign of the Cross over the Supreme Council. The prayer stand of thousands of believers continues at the walls of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
The Kiev authorities have stepped up pressure on the last spiritual and social bond that connects Ukraine with Russia - the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
In response to two anti-church bills, prepared for voting in parliament on May 18, the faithful to canonical Orthodoxy came out on the fateful day to the walls of the Verkhovna Rada in prayer, filling the entire square in front of the building, praying that the Lord would instruct the people's deputies not to adopt anti-church laws.
According to organizers, about 10 thousand people came to the Mariinsky Park. The action was patrolled by the mounted police.
It is noteworthy that in the sky above the Verkhovna Rada during a prayer service, a cross made of clouds was seen. One can speculate about the nature and origin of the "heavenly cross", but the fact remains.
Monk Alipy Svetlichny writes on Facebook: “In the Verkhovna Rada, all in embroidered shirt, as from a village party, Anton Gerashchenko blamed the assembled Orthodox Christians who came to the prayer service with icons, banners and the Cross that they had not brought the national flag. He concluded that this was done because the enemies of the state are under the Verkhovna Rada. No, embroidered pan, they are not enemies of Ukraine. It is you who are opposing the very Conscience of Ukraine! You are fighting this remnant of conscience. And they are ready to strangle her with their bloody hands without a trace. You are making Orthodox Christians your enemies. But not you, Rada, all Ukrainians. The salt of the earth stood under your windows! "
Of course, there could be no lawlessness against the UOC without personal support from Poroshenko, Parubiy and Groisman; the latter, even while in Israel, again spoke about the creation of a local Ukrainian church. This is especially poignant to hear from Groisman.
Analysts speak with alarm about the possible grave consequences of the adoption of anti-church bills, the essence of which is to maintain state control over the canonical Church (appointment of bishops), as well as the high probability of seizure of churches by schismatics with the support of Nazi radicals and a change in the jurisdiction of religious communities, whose centers act as Ukraine and abroad.
The very fact of introducing bills into the Rada's agenda marks the beginning of a new stage of the civil war in Ukraine. It can develop into a religious war.
Temples of the UOC were captured earlier, during 2014-2016. the capture of more than forty temples was recorded. The priests were beaten, killed, forced to emigrate. However, before this was still interpreted as "illegal excesses". Now, the very fact of voting and the introduction of these bills into the field of public discussion will actually legalize the anti-Orthodox pogromists.
This was confirmed by the simultaneous attacks carried out on the same day by groups of Pravosekov on canonical churches.
In particular, a group of fighters in camouflage and masks tried to break into the church of St. John of Sochavsky belonging to the UOC in the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky district of the Odessa region, the parishioners locked themselves in the building and called for help, ringing the alarm.
It was captured by representatives of the Nazi organization "Freedom" and the Holy Dormition Church of the canonical Church in the village of Zvezdnoye, Khmelnytsky region. “Svobodovtsy, led by Viktor Burlik, a deputy of the regional council from the Svoboda party, threatening us with physical violence, demanded that the temple be returned,” said Archpriest Mikhail Varakhoba. “To avoid acts of vandalism and clashes, we had to give them the keys and even all the documents for the church.” According to the priest, the Svoboda activist also agitated the believers of the UOC-MP to transfer to the "Kiev Patriarchate."
By the way, the other day the head of the "Kiev Patriarchate" Denisenko signed a memorandum of cooperation with the "Right Sector". As you can see, the agreement immediately went into action.
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Apparently, we can talk not only about a religious war, the most terrible of possible, but also about the fact that it is planned to bring bishops and metropolitans personally appointed by Poroshenko to a common denominator. And then the "All-Ukrainian Council" assembled from them will launch, for example, the procedure for breaking with the ROC. This is precisely what those who have criminally seized power over the people of Ukraine are leading to and who yearn for the destruction of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Political scientist and public figure I. Druz argues that the introduction of such bills to a vote has a significant propaganda effect for the entire Ukrainian society, which the authorities are gradually preparing for a forceful scenario to seize the main Orthodox shrines, including the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The Poroshenko regime is trying to smoothly implement the old plans of Rome, voiced by the Uniate Metropolitan Sheptytsky a hundred years ago: first to tear the dioceses of the Moscow Patriarchate from the Russian Mother Church, and then to subordinate them to the Pope. In the Rada, as in the whole ukropolitikum, there are practically no non-pro-Western forces left. The State Department has raised a whole galaxy of its agents of influence in Ukraine, not only buying them up, but also ideologically reforging them, chasing them through puppet pseudo-nationalist organizations.
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His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine Onufriy appealed to the deputies of the Ukrainian parliament with a request to prevent the adoption of anti-church bills: “At present, the entire Orthodox world has been stirred up by the actions of individual politicians who are artificially trying to make the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is the Church of the Ukrainian people and unites the divided East and the West, North and South of our country are alien to the Ukrainian society ”.
“Dear deputies! - said in the appeal. - More than 300,000 citizens of Ukraine have personally appealed to you, their chosen ones, with a request not to adopt these bills ... The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has repeatedly noted the danger of these bills, which are not only anti-church, but also anti-state and anti-people, and their adoption will lead to religious enmity , discrimination and violation of freedom of conscience and religion. The implementation of these bills will open the door for a religious war and leave a negative imprint on Ukraine in the international arena. "
And in the message of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, it is noted that if the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopts these anti-Orthodox projects, discriminatory legal practice, unheard of for modern Europe, will be legalized against the majority of the Orthodox population of Ukraine. Such restrictive religious legislation did not operate in Ukraine even during the communist regime, and in the rest of Europe something similar existed only during the Nazi rule in Germany.
Patriarch Kirill appealed to the “leaders of the Normandy Four states”, the Primates of the Orthodox Churches, the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, the UN Secretary General and the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches with an appeal to make every effort to prevent the adoption of discriminatory bills Nos. 4128 and 4511 , "Which threatens to become a blatant example of the violation of human rights to freedom of religion."
The appeal of Patriarch Kirill, apparently, had an effect, since there was a reaction from both the Vatican and many international organizations. It is noteworthy and even symptomatic that the response was immediate.
In particular, in response to the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Olaf Fukse Tveit sent special messages to Poroshenko and Parubia, in which he noted that the WCC, which includes 348 member churches, representing more than 110 countries and 500 million Christians, is deeply concerned: “The World Council of Churches believes that the adoption of the aforementioned bills will jeopardize the principle of freedom of religion and equality of all Churches and religious communities in Ukraine and may cause a new wave of tension in Ukrainian society ... These two bills run counter to the efforts being made in Ukraine on the development of democracy ... We call for these bills, fraught with negative consequences, to be withdrawn. "
And the pontiff summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to the Vatican for an audience to discuss the anti-church initiative of the Rada deputies.
David Milman, Assistant to the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, also said his words on the burning topic: “There is such a thing as law enforcement. The political situation may change, but the law, if passed, will remain. And it can turn against any religious community. Today it is the Moscow Patriarchate, tomorrow - Catholics, and the day after tomorrow there may be Muslims or our church. It is impossible to pass laws on the topic of the day. "
And although the draft laws were removed from the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada that day, it is highly likely that the abuse of believers will continue next week.
At the same time, on May 18, the power of the All-Ukrainian prayer stand of Orthodox believers in Ukraine was shown.
And the procession of the cross, which took place in the summer of 2016, showed that tens and hundreds of thousands of believers are coming out in support of the UOC. All over Ukraine.
Photo pravoslavye.org.ua; strana.ua
The presidents of Ukraine and Russia spoke on the phone. Ukraine is going to receive $ 2-3 billion annually from gas transit. Former Berkut fighters spoke about the events of 2014. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allowed Naftogaz to sign agreements with Gazprom. The head of the tax service boasted that for the first time since 2011 he had fulfilled the plan of revenues to the state budget. "Servant of the people" Yevgeniya Kravchuk "let slip" on the social network that they "have ideas on taxation of Facebook." YouTube has begun to delete videos of the "Maidan shootings". Ukraine signed a "secret" amicable agreement with Gazprom. Minister Malyuska figured out how to increase his salary. Zelensky rejected a petition to deprive Medvedchuk of the title of Honored Lawyer of Ukraine. The presidents of Ukraine and Russia spoke on the phone. Ukraine is going to receive $ 2-3 billion annually from gas transit. Former Berkut fighters spoke about the events of 2014. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allowed Naftogaz to sign agreements with Gazprom. The head of the tax service boasted that for the first time since 2011 he had fulfilled the plan of revenues to the state budget. "Servant of the people" Yevgenia Kravchuk "let slip" on the social network that they "have ideas on taxing Facebook." YouTube has begun to delete videos of the “Maidan shootings”. Ukraine signed a "secret" amicable agreement with Gazprom. Minister Malyuska figured out how to increase his salary. Zelensky rejected a petition to deprive Medvedchuk of the title of Honored Lawyer of Ukraine. The presidents of Ukraine and Russia spoke on the phone. Ukraine is going to receive $ 2-3 billion annually from gas transit. Former Berkut fighters spoke about the events of 2014. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allowed Naftogaz to sign agreements with Gazprom. The head of the tax service boasted that for the first time since 2011 he had fulfilled the plan of revenues to the state budget. "Servant of the people" Yevgenia Kravchuk "let slip" on the social network that they "have ideas on taxing Facebook." YouTube has begun to delete videos of the “Maidan shootings”. Ukraine signed a "secret" amicable agreement with Gazprom. Minister Malyuska figured out how to increase his salary. Zelensky rejected a petition to deprive Medvedchuk of the title of Honored Lawyer of Ukraine. The presidents of Ukraine and Russia spoke on the phone. Ukraine is going to receive $ 2-3 billion annually from gas transit. Former Berkut fighters spoke about the events of 2014. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allowed Naftogaz to sign agreements with Gazprom. The head of the tax service boasted that for the first time since 2011 he had fulfilled the plan of revenues to the state budget. "Servant of the people" Yevgenia Kravchuk "let slip" on the social network that they "have ideas on taxing Facebook." YouTube has begun to delete videos of the “Maidan shootings”. Ukraine signed a "secret" amicable agreement with Gazprom. Minister Malyuska figured out how to increase his salary. Zelensky rejected a petition to deprive Medvedchuk of the title of Honored Lawyer of Ukraine. "Servant of the people" Yevgenia Kravchuk "let slip" on the social network that they "have ideas on taxing Facebook." YouTube has begun to delete videos of the “Maidan shootings”. Ukraine signed a "secret" amicable agreement with Gazprom. Minister Malyuska figured out how to increase his salary. Zelensky rejected a petition to deprive Medvedchuk of the title of Honored Lawyer of Ukraine. "Servant of the people" Yevgenia Kravchuk "let slip" on the social network that they "have ideas on taxing Facebook." YouTube has begun to delete videos of the “Maidan shootings”. Ukraine signed a "secret" amicable agreement with Gazprom. Minister Malyuska figured out how to increase his salary. Zelensky rejected a petition to deprive Medvedchuk of the title of Honored Lawyer of Ukraine. "Servant of the people" Yevgenia Kravchuk "let slip" on the social network that they "have ideas on taxing Facebook." YouTube has begun to delete videos of the “Maidan shootings”. Ukraine signed a "secret" amicable agreement with Gazprom. Minister Malyuska figured out how to increase his salary. Zelensky rejected a petition to deprive Medvedchuk of the title of Honored Lawyer of Ukraine.
HOLY WOMEN IN THE DESERT OF THE EAST THE MONUMENT THEODORA The daughter of wealthy parents, beautiful in appearance, was chosen to marry a kind young man. The young husband loved the young wife, and their life was an example of a happy married life. Unfortunately, the young rich man fell passionately in love with Theodora. He poured gifts and money, assurances and caresses to seduce Theodora from the path of duty. She did not succumb to sin. He turned for help to a clever woman who was engaged in deceptions of all kinds; a corrupt soul took on a young, inexperienced woman; after many satanic deceptions, she managed to instill in Theodora the idea that God does not see the sins of the night, and the crime was committed at night. But as soon as the heinous sin was committed, Theodora felt a burning repentance. Tormented by her conscience, she could not bear the presence of her husband, her relatives and friends. In vain did she tell herself that her sin was not known to good people and God. Her conscience denounced her unfaithfulness to her husband and haunted her. Finally, she made a firm determination to flee from home and in a desolate place to atone for the crime with strict repentance. First she came to the convent, where she was received with love. Abbess, noticing her melancholy, gave her the Gospel to read. When she read here: nothing is covered, the hedgehog is not revealed; she was stunned with horror. Tormenting her hair, she now confessed to the abbess of her crime. “If there is repentance for me,” she said, “then I will sever ties with the world and I will pray to God for mercy.” Fearing that her husband would find her in the convent and would not allow her to perform feats of repentance, she decided to hide in the convent. She came to the Oktodecad Monastery in men's clothing. The abbot for the first time did not order to give an answer until morning. She stayed behind the monastery at night. Then it is said: "You are a young and pampered eunuch, but the monastery's charter is strict, harsh, you cannot be accepted." - "I will die of hunger, but I will not leave the monastery," answered the eunuch. The abbot relented. Theodore is now in the very monastery where the relics of St. Thomaida, who gave her life for maintaining her marital fidelity. It is clear how her resolve for exploits should have intensified. It is understandable why she wanted to die, but not move away from the walls of the Octodecad. Admission to the Octodecad she considered a sign that her desires - to repent - would not be denied by heaven. She was entrusted with the work in the monastery garden, the delivery of water, where she was required, finally, the cleaning of the entire courtyard; at the same time, she did not free herself from fasting, vigils, private and general prayers. Theodora humbly told herself that, judging by the importance of her crime, the obediences imposed on her were too easy and condescending. She herself wanted to strengthen her labors and brought her jealousy to the point that she took food only once a week. Her successes in spiritual exploits attracted the Savior's mercy to her, and she astonished the abbot and the brethren with her exploits, until she was crucified on the cross of mortification, continually falling, like a new harlot, at the feet of Christ, washing them day and night with tears of repentance, that not only her sin was forgiven, but she became at a high degree of spiritual perfection. Divine grace began to manifest itself in her apparently. So, since the crocodile that ate people died at her word. And yet, the Lord allowed the ascetic to be under a terrible test. The abbot sent her to the city with camels, on which she was to load oil and bread and return to the monastery. She was ordered, if night falls on the way, to stop at the ninth monastery (it was nine miles from Alexandria). Here the girl, mistaking Theodora for a man, wanted to persuade her to sin, but was rejected with humble indignation, threw herself in her shameful frenzy into the arms of a passerby. Having become pregnant, she, at the insistence of her parents, who wanted to find out who seduced her, replied that the perpetrator of her crime was a monk of the ninth monastery, and determined the day, hour and place where she met him. After complaints were brought and a search was carried out in this monastery, it turned out that the guilty one was Theodore. The monks of the ninth monastery made loud complaints to the abbot of the monastery in which the ascetic lived, demanding severe punishment for insulting all monasticism. The humble Theodora, of course, could have justified herself immediately, but she, deeply feeling her shortcomings before the holiness of God, decided to perfect her soul by voluntary sorrows. She was kicked out of the monastery; she had to hide in a beggarly hut, which she herself put near the monastery. When the girl who accused Theodora gave birth, Theodora brought the child, as a father who was supposed to feed him; she fed this foster child with milk, which the neighboring shepherds gave her out of compassion. She herself was content with the wild herbs of the desert, and to quench her thirst she drank sea water. How many sorrows this tender woman's soul endured under the hail of mockery of insolent righteousness! What was it worth to endure both the heat of a hot climate and the cold winter damp air! Deprived of the right to live with people, she lived with desert animals. And she endured all this with love in silence for seven whole years. Seven years after the exile, the monks of the ninth monastery, who demanded the punishment of Theodora, appeared to the abbot who had expelled her and asked to receive the repented eunuch. She was accepted, but on the condition that she locked herself up with her child in a secluded cell and would not leave it. This seclusion lasted two years. Shortly before her death, her monastery suffered a great calamity: due to drought, there was no water in the wells and even in the lake itself. The hegumen, having called the brethren, said: "Only Fr. Theodore can save us by the grace of God resting on him." Calling Theodora out of a secluded cell, he ordered her to take a vessel and bring water from a well, which was completely dry. She with the word "Bless, Father" went and drew water from a well, which instantly filled with water and was not without water during the rest of the drought. Before her death, Theodora offered the most edifying advice to the child who considered her his father. She exhorted him to stay in the monastery, to be obedient, patient, helpful. She begged him never and in no way to condemn anyone, to pray to the only Sinless about those who sin, to answer modestly to questions, not to defile lips with either idle or blasphemous words, to serve the monks with love, especially to look after the sick, to resort to God in all sorrows and temptations and create a remembrance of it before the Lord, who has to judge not only sins, but also the righteousness of people. In conclusion, she told her imaginary son that she was giving him to God Almighty, who would not leave him, for He is the father and mother of all orphans, a mentor and guide to salvation. Some of the monks heard this last advice to her child. After fervent prayer, she rested from her labors. Seeing that she was dead, the child began to cry loudly; the monks, who had heard her teachings and her wondrous last prayer, told the abbot about this, but God had already revealed to him both about the field and about the spiritual merits of the deceased. The abbot did not want to discover this otherwise than in the presence of the hermits of the ninth monastery, for whom he sent. They all arrived with the abbot. The mystery of sex, angelic purity, wonderful long patience, the exploits of self-denial, Theodora's innocence were solemnly recognized. Providence was pleased to bring her husband to the monastery; he learned only at this time both about the reason for the removal of his wife from the house, and about her asceticism; deeply impressed by the example, he left the world, sold his property, took monastic vows, settled in Theodora's cell and was buried in the same grave with her. The child, however, grew in virtue and subsequently became the abbot of this very monastery. Blessed Theodora asceticised under the emperor Zeno (474–490).
20 photos / 2 videos
On May 18, more than 10 thousand believers gathered at the walls of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to protest against the adoption of anti-church bills N 4128 and N 4511.
According to the Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, right now, on May 18, 2017, there are about ten thousand people under the walls of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Representatives of parishes and monasteries from different parts of Ukraine are thus trying to force the people's representatives to hear the opinion of the religious part of society and prevent the legalization of discrimination on religious grounds in Ukraine.
Right now, May 18, 2017, under the walls of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, about ten thousand believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from different regions of Ukraine perform a prayer stand, so that the Lord admonishes the people's representatives not to accept anti-church bills put on the agenda of the meeting. It is reported by Information and educational department of the UOC.
By their prayerful standing, people speak out against the adoption of the scandalous bill No. 4128, which can legitimize "church raiding", and bill No. 4511, which is designed to discredit the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and provides for state control in its affairs.
Starting from 8:00, the clergy, headed by the bishops of the UOC, Metropolitan Vladimir of Pochaev, Archbishop of Kirovograd and Novomirgorod Ioasaph, Bishop Iona of Obukhov, Bishop of Irpen Kliment, Bishop of Borodyansky Barsonofy, at once for the Bishop of Borodyansky Barsonofy, to accept the actions of the Bishop of Ivankov by the People's Deputies the bills did not unleash an interfaith war in Ukraine.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry blesses the participants of the prayer stand near the Verkhovna Rada Watch live broadcast on the page of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Facebook.
The participants in the prayer stand told for what purpose they are now praying at the walls of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine:
Ekaterina (Chernihiv region):
In the sky over the Verkhovna Rada during a prayer service against anti-church bills, a cross from the clouds appeared. We defend the rights of believers, we oppose the law, which deputies violate the rights and freedoms of our Orthodox Christians, for the protection of our Holy Orthodox Canonical Apostolic Church of Christ. You know, the deputies trample not only Christ, but also their ancestors, grandfathers, fathers and great-grandfathers. We are for Christ and we stand up for our rights.
Larisa (Khmelnitsky):
We have come to defend the rights of our canonical Orthodox Church, so that we will be allowed to serve as the apostles bequeathed to us. So that the state does not interfere in the Church, because, to be honest, they do not understand anything there. I was a participant in the procession and with my own eyes saw miracles that happened and the Lord showed that He was with us. We hope that the deputies will hear us and this issue will be resolved peacefully, because this is the largest denomination.
We will remind, earlier on our website, that tens of thousands of Orthodox Christians throughout Ukraine signed an appeal to the people's deputies of the Verkhovna Rada with an appeal to prevent the adoption of anti-church bills N 4128 and N 4511.
On this day, the Verkhovna Rada did not consider anti-church bills.
Photo album on
Yesterday, on May 18, on a sunny May day in Mariinsky Park (before the revolution of 1917 - Tsarsky), in front of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, apart from numerous Kievites, Orthodox believers gathered, who came from various dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Most of them left for Kiev yesterday or tonight to unite in a joint prayer to the Lord in the morning for the enlightenment of the people's deputies, whose vote could decide the fate of the Church in Ukraine.
It was planned to consider two scandalous bills No. 4128 and No. 4511 put on the agenda for voting in the Verkhovna Rada. The content of these projects can only be compared with a terrorist bomb aimed at Ukrainian Orthodoxy. The adoption of laws would mean a new persecution of the Church up to the deprivation of a number of legal rights by her, under which her churches could be transferred to other confessions, clergy and bishops would be appointed with the permission of the authorities and self-government bodies. In fact, this is a rollback in the times of the godless regime of the 20th century, when the punishing hand of state atheism tried to root out the people's faith from the masses of millions. It is characteristic that both in 1918 and now, the government turned on the green light for schismatics and impostors disguising themselves as Orthodox, and the legitimate canonical Orthodox Church is oppressed and repressed in every possible way.
On the square in front of the building of the Verkhovna Rada, a sea of \u200b\u200bpeople with banners, icons, crosses and posters, barred by a metal fence and a police chain, offered prayer. Prayers and akathists were served, alternating with a general Easter greeting: "Christ is risen!", "Truly is risen!"
Hundreds of believers arrived in Kiev with Archbishop Iosaph of Kirovograd and Novomirgorod.
“The information that the ill-fated bills will be considered in the Verkhovna Rada today was met very negatively by the Kirovograd flock,” said Vladyka. - About a thousand people came from our region. But a greater number of believers remained in the regional center in order to hold the same prayer stand in front of the regional administration building. And not only here, but in all cities of Ukraine, people came out with processions of the cross to unite in prayer with millions of people throughout the country. Orthodox believers are outraged that the state interferes with the most sacred - spiritual life, trampling on both the constitutional rights of citizens and the gospel principles, because the President of Ukraine, assuming a high office, takes an oath in Holy Scripture, where Christ's words about love, humility and gentleness are heard. When we do not have enough bread, warmth or some other material wealth, our people endure. But when they encroach on the most sacred - faith and the Church, patience runs out. And our people in this way reacts to the events taking place in the supreme legislative body of Ukraine. Unfortunately, there are forces that benefit from our country not being calm, but chaos. So that the church unity, which covers all regions of the country, including the East of the country and the Orthodox Crimea, was broken. We know that the author of one of the projects is the deputy Viktor Yelensky, who is listed as a professor at a Catholic university in Lviv, as well as a number of other radicals who hate the canonical Church.
The sun had already outlined noon, and the many hours of standing continued. People, having rested in the shady alleys of the park, again stood in the ranks of the worshipers. From the side of the Arsenalnaya metro station and from below from Podol, Orthodox people approached: young and old, with icons and posters, many took their children with them.