An international conference organized by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and its supporters in Europe was held in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event, dedicated to the "protection of Orthodoxy and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC)", attracted attention due to the participation of Metropolitan Luka of Zaporizhia (Andriy Kovalenko), which caused concern in Ukraine.
Metropolitan Luka is known for his anti-Ukrainian views and promotion of Russian propaganda narratives. For example, on May 6, 2021, he wrote in his Telegram channel that the USA wants to repeat the path of Hitler, so they allegedly: occupied Ukraine, enslaved Ukrainians, quarreled Ukrainians with Russia and forced them to fight against it, began exterminating Ukrainians by testing biological weapons on Ukrainians and planting "non-traditional values".
There he talked about the alleged "persecution" of the UOC-MP and Orthodoxy in Ukraine and spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda, which Russia needs.
The fact that this "international conference" had an anti-Ukrainian character is determined by the final document that was adopted there. Of course, the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine was not even mentioned. There was no mention of the shelling of the UOC-MP temples by the Russian army and the destruction of these religious buildings by the Russians.
But the Armed Forces and Ukraine were mentioned only in a negative context, using the main theses of Russian propaganda and typical Russian manipulations. The points of the communiqué are set out on resources related to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Here are just two points from that document:
7. To prohibit the Armed Forces and other military formations of Ukraine from shelling Orthodox churches, as well as equipping them with military firing positions.
8. To stop the religious genocide against the members of the UOC because of their spiritual connection with the Russian Orthodox Church (regarding the destruction of images of Russian saints, icons and church utensils). It is also necessary to urgently stop the renaming of churches named after saints associated with the spiritual history of Russia.
The final document also mentioned Ihor Yakovenko, better known as Metropolitan Arsenii, vicar of the Sviatohirskaya Lavra. He is accused of disseminating information of a military nature. Now his case is being considered in the Sloviansk court. He himself is in the pre-trial detention center in Dnipro.
Here is the point regarding Yakovenko and other members of the UOC MP in the final document:
"Ensure the release of bishops and priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (in particular, Metropolitan Arseny, vicar of the Sviatohirskaya Lavra), detained on trumped-up charges..."
The final document of this anti-Ukrainian action was handed over to the Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria.
