Metropolitan Onufry addresses Poroshenko in connection with the events in Katerinovka
September 23, 2015. Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate) has appealed to the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in connection with the violent assault on Orthodox believers in the Katerinovka village of the Kremenets district of the Ternopil region, as reports pravoslavie.ru.
The hierarch has expressed his serious concern over use of force against the faithful members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC MP), as a result of which fifteen people were injured, and two of them taken to the hospital.
The archpastor has also stressed the inadmissibility of using coercive methods in the settlement of religious conflicts as well as participation of extremist forces in these conflicts.
Metropolitan Onufry has directed Poroshenko’s attention to the regular violation of the religious legislation in the Ternopil region, which led to the religious animosity in the area.
His Beatitude has expressed his wish that the intercession of the Mother of God will save the Ukrainian people from wars and discord and restore the peace and prosperity in the Ukrainian land.