Ukraine's Religious Leaders Appeal To International Community To Stop Russian Attacks On Shrines

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) The statement was posted on the website of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations in the wake of the damage incurred by Kyiv's St. Sophia Cathedral in Russia's latest attack overnight Tuesday.

The Council of Churches noted that St. Sophia of Kyiv is the oldest temple dating back to the times of the ancient Kievan state, Rus-Ukraine. The temple was built in the 11th century, and construction had begun under Volodymyr the Great, the leader who baptized Rus. One of its unique features is the mosaic of the Virgin Orans (the Praying Mother of God) on its wall. The cathedral's frescoes also depict fragments of medieval European history, including the wives of European kings of that time and the daughters of St. Yaroslav the Wise.

"Saint Sophia Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It survived the Mongol-Tatar invasion in the 13th century. Under Joseph Stalin, there were plans to demolish it. The cathedral withstood the destruction of World War II and remained intact. Yet it is only now, in the 21st century, that modern barbarians from Russia - who have no regard for the sacred - have caused damage to this historic sanctuary through a missile strike," the statement emphasized.

The Council of Churches noted that this is not the only case where the Russian forces target Ukrainian shrines. Since the full-scale invasion, Russia has destroyed or damaged 670 temples and houses of prayer, killed 60 clergymen representing various churches and religious organizations. Many priests and pastors have been illegally detained and held in Russian captivity.

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"On the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia, severe religious persecution continues. This includes unlawful arrests and imprisonments of clergy from different confessions, the seizure of religious buildings for military and administrative use by the occupying forces, the closure of churches and prayer houses, total control over religious life, and attempts to manipulate it to support the occupation," the Council of Churches emphasized.

The religious leaders recalled that on March 1, 2022, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations appealed to representatives of the international community to "immediately use all available means to influence the leadership of Russia" in order to stop the criminal shelling of Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv”.

Read also: Sophia Cathedral damaged in Russian air raid targeting Kyi

"We, the leaders of Ukrainian churches and religious organizations, appeal to the entire civilized world to take all necessary measures to stop the barbarism perpetrated by the Russian Federation - through missile and drone attacks on ancient sanctuaries and churches, and through the abduction and persecution of Christians and other religious leaders for their beliefs and faith," the Council of Churches emphasized.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, St. Sophia Cathedral sustained damage in Kyiv as a result of a Russian air raid overnight Tuesday, June 10.

It was previously reported that St. Sophia of Kyiv and the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra are on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are under threat due to Russia's ongoing aggression.

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites are outstanding cultural and natural values ​​that are considered the heritage of all mankind. These values ​​are put on the UNESCO list.

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