Ivano-Frankivsk eparchy of UOC appeals to Poroshenko and the leadership of Uniates

The Ivano-Frankivsk eparchy has published an open letter addressed to the President of Ukraine, state authorities, Pope Francis, the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine Claudio Gugerotti, the head of the UGCC Sviatoslav Shevchuk, international organizations and the Ukrainian public about the Uniates of the church in Kolomyia.

The eparchy noted that while Ukrainians are sacrificing their lives in the East of the country to preserve peace in Ukraine, "there are attempts to divide our people here where peace is kept". "The situation that has developed around the Annunciation Church of Kolomyia is impossible for a law-based state. If human rights cannot be ensured either by court decisions or law enforcement agencies, or by the Guarantor of the Constitution of Ukraine, how can one speak about the security of society? Unlawful retention of the Holy Annunciation Church, in case of impunity, can become a precedent," the appeal says.

The eparchy of the UOC draws special attention to the use of physical force to Orthodox believers, and the "priest" of the UGCC Nikolai Medinsky, "without hesitation, personally struck even women."

The Ivano-Frankivsk eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church asks not to harm the business reputation of the Ukrainian state and take all necessary measures to restore the violated rights of the Orthodox community.