Authorized the so-called Kyivan Patriarchate in one year illegally seized More than 18 temples of the UOC-MP, said on the first day of the week on the bishops ' meeting in the capital of Russia, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill.

" In the past year alone the secessionists by force illegally seized More than 18 temples in Rivne, Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Lviv and other areas. It should be noted that unsuccessful attempts to capture the temples was much more that shows not Only the perseverance of dissenters, but also about courage and steadfastness in the faith of Orthodox believers in Ukraine ", - said the Patriarch.

according to him, despite the difficult political situation, the activities of dissenters and external pressure, Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine Onuphrios could save the canonical unity of the Church in Ukraine ".

"The duty of the Church is not to give a political assessment of any of the parties to an armed confrontation, but to highlight the need to continue the negotiating process and to encourage warring for peace, paying attention to the disastrous situation of peaceful inhabitants in the area of conflict," drew the attention of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

He also said "courage and fortitude" priests who remained together with his own flock and serve in the territories of the fighting, despite the risk." I know about incoming threats, and in the cases of death sentences in absentia, at least ten clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In those regions where the most active nationalist groups, incidents of vandalism, arson of churches, distributed leaflets and posters inciting sectarian and ethnic strife ", - said the Patriarch.

according to him, within Gorlovka Donetsk and dioceses from shelling received damages of not less than 60 temples, of which not less than fifteen completely destroyed. The Patriarch tried to convince to get the ROC's position regarding the events in Ukraine to a wide range of people through preaching and public speaking, and equally in the process of working with different religious, political and public organizations ".

sections: Politics