Spоkesman for UOC: Desire for peace in Donbass must be heard by whole world

Spоkesperson for UOC, Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich at the forum "People of Peace". Photo: a screenshot/ youtube.com / People f Peace

We would like the whole world to hear the desire of people to be together demonstrated at the forum, said Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC, at a meeting with participants of the International Forum "People of Peace" held on September 21, 2020, at the Holy Dormition Sviatogorsk Lavra.

"It feels like people really want peace," he said. “Our desires are material and sooner or later they will come true, and the stronger your desire is, the more people want it, the sooner peace will set in. The Church no longer needs to say anything now because we initiated this forum not to say anything ourselves but to listen to you. And everything that I hear is very inspiring to me.

The spokesperson for the UOC voiced the information that during 2019, about 13 million people crossed the borderline in the Donbass.

"This means that people communicate, want to communicate and will communicate," the cleric explained. “This is what unites people. And today's forum can become a bridge where people from different sides meet, communicate and engage in dialogue".

In his opinion, one of the main points of the forum is to demonstrate the strong desire of people to be together.

"I want this desire to be heard by both the uncontrolled side and the world. There are a lot of like-minded people in the world. God grant that this cause of peace may mature and be realized in life," said Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich.

We recall that on September 21, 2020, in the framework of peace initiatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to end the armed conflict and restore peaceful life in Donbass, the International Forum "People of Peace" was held at the Sviatogorsk Lavra. 

As reported earlier, the Primate of the UOC addressed the participants of the International Forum "People of Peace".

Read also

In Ukraine, Trump’s 'spiritual advisor' reassured of religious freedom

Pastor Mark Burns stated that Ukraine, despite the war, is a "beacon of religious freedom."

Lavra brethren congratulate Metropolitan Pavel on 31 years as abbot

The monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra have expressed hope that they will soon be able to pray again with their abbot.

Amsterdam: Intrusion into Lavra Caves – a return to Soviet-era persecution

International lawyer Robert Amsterdam has condemned the actions of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture regarding the inspection of holy relics in the Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, calling it a violation of religious freedom.

Over 20 EU states condemn Hungary for ban on LGBT propaganda among children

“This restricts the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” diplomats state in a joint declaration.

His Beatitude officiates consecration of Bishop of Rakhiv

At the Church of St. Agapitus in the Lavra, the Primate of the UOC ordained a vicar for the Khust Eparchy.

Met Victor: It is painful to see Lavra's relics turned into test subjects

According to the bishop, there is particular concern over how members of the scientific commission will handle the holy relics.