Metropolitan Luke calls for fasting and prayer against anti-church bills

Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko) of Zaporozhie and Melitopol appealed to the flock regarding the forthcoming consideration of bills № 4511 and № 4128 at the session of the Verkhovna Rada. Vladyka called on the faithful to pray that anti-church bills would not be adopted, reports the website of the Zaporozhie diocese.

"Our Mother Church is in danger! Once again, the enemy of the human race, through his accomplices, is trying hard to destroy Her soul-saving work! – says the address of Metropolitan Luke. – On May 18, 2017, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine plans to consider bills directed against our Mother Church. Thus, bill № 4128 proposes that membership in a religious community be determined on the basis of "self-identification". In other words, anyone who has gone once to your church can declare themselves a permanent parishioner, and with their own kind, they can legally eject you from your temple. Such actions are a raider seizure. Bill № 4511, in turn, introduces a special status for the churches whose governing bodies are located in a country recognized by the Rada as an aggressor State and gives the right not to the hierarchy, but to representatives of civil authorities – often non-believers hostile to our Church – to appoint clergymen. Are you ready for the fact that your priest will be removed because he is disliked by some official?"

Vladyka blessed the faithful to fast and read the proposed prayer rule from May 14 to 18.

"My dear flock, brothers and sisters! I ask you not to lose heart, for Christ said to us: "Fear not, little flock, I'm with you until the end of time." We are not two or three, we are thousands – we will testify of our Orthodox Faith! " called Metropolitan Luke at the end of his message.