In his Paschal message this year, Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus once again drew attention to the ongoing Turkish occupation of part of the island, which has lasted for over 50 years. He emphasized that, despite numerous sufferings and hardships, the Greek people of Cyprus do not lose their faith, as the Resurrection of Christ is a symbol of victory over death and justice over evil. The message was published on the website of Orthodoxia News Agency.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=85991
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The President of Estonia, Alar Karis, refused to sign the amendments to the Church and Religious Communities Law, stating that they contradict the Constitution of the country. He emphasized that the proposed changes restrict the freedom of associations and religious beliefs, which is a violation of fundamental rights and freedoms.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86004
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Archbishop Markell of Bălți and Fălești has issued a strong call for the protection of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, noting that Moldovan authorities are actively persecuting clergy due to their pilgrimage trips. In his statement, the archbishop emphasized that it is not only trips to Russia that have triggered the persecution, but also political pressure on the Church through fines and reprisals against clergy for their religious activities.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=85998
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Yuriy Chornomorets, a supporter and lobbyist of the OCU in the media, religious scholar and member of the Sophia Brotherhood, said that Orthodox clergy who do not have a canonical connection with the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, have no right to act on the territory of Ukraine. Chornomorets added that the head of the OCU should consider anathematizing all hierarchs and clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and demand their expulsion from the country.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86012
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April 24 marked the one-year anniversary of the detention of the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Arseny of Sviatohirsk. The bishop has been in the pre-trial detention center in Dnipro for a year after he was detained by the SSU and served with a suspicion of committing a criminal offense.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86014
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who signed the scandalous anti-church law No. 3894 aimed at banning the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, claims that no one in Ukraine “banned or closed anyone.” The head of state said that there is no pressure on the Church in the country, and the government is simply getting rid of Russia's control over religious structures within Ukraine.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86027
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On April 22, 2025, the first meeting of the Committee to Eliminate Anti-Christian Bias in the Federal Government was held in Washington, D.C., with the participation of U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The task force, created by President Trump in accordance with Executive Order 14202, was joined by civilian Christian Americans who have been unfairly attacked by the Biden administration because of their religious beliefs.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86017
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On April 24, 2025, the Economic Court of Volyn Region held a regular hearing in the case of the eviction of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the complex of premises of the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr-Volynskyi, which also houses the diocesan administration and the Volodymyr-Volynskyi Theological School. This time, the diocese's lawyers filed a petition to review the decision due to the fact that the text contained errors in the legal name of the religious organization. However, the court rejected the diocese's claim.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86030
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The Defense Council of the Kherson region has decided to ban visits to cemeteries during memorial days. This restriction was introduced due to the difficult security situation in the region.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86036
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On April 24, 2025, the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOCC) issued an official statement expressing sincere gratitude to the President of the Republic of Estonia, Alar Karis, for his principled stance on the draft amendments to the Law on Churches and Congregations.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86041
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According to several influential media outlets, the US administration is considering a major reorganization of the State Department, which includes the reduction of departments such as International Religious Freedom, Human Rights, Women's Rights, Africa, and Climate Change. The draft executive order proposes increasing control by the White House over the foreign policy service and transitioning to a more tightly controlled model of diplomacy.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86047
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A meeting took place at the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine between cadets, faculty members, and the Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, Viktor Yelensky. The lecture focused on the importance of religion for security and stability on both global and national levels.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86052
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The Russian Orthodox Church has protested the imposition of fines on the priests of the Orthodox Church of Moldova (OCM) who participated in a pilgrimage to Russia. Vachtang Kipshidze, Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations and the Media of the Moscow Patriarchate, described these actions as "a gross interference in the internal affairs of the Church" and a violation of religious freedom.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86060
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China has introduced strict limitations on the activities of foreign missionaries, significantly restricting their freedom to operate within the country. Starting from May 1, foreign clergy will no longer be able to organize religious gatherings for Chinese citizens without official government approval. According to the new regulations, preaching, establishing religious organizations, accepting donations, and recruiting Chinese citizens can only be done upon invitation and under the control of government authorities.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86066
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From April 2 to April 16, 2025, monastic and novice tonsures took place in various monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86072
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On April 26, 2025, a farewell ceremony for Pope Francis will be held at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, with participants from socially vulnerable groups.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86099
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A disturbing incident has been reported in the city of Izium, Kharkiv region, suggesting a possible attempt at the forced mobilization of clergy from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86080
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On April 25, the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, arrived at the Vatican to pay his last respects to the late Pope Francis. Metropolitan Anthony visited St. Peter’s Basilica, where the Pontiff’s body lay in state.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86094
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On April 24, 2025, during a session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a statement was made regarding the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) in 2018, which, according to experts, led to tensions with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which broke ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in May 2022. In particular, Committee expert Chinsung Chung expressed concern over possible violations of the rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion in Ukraine in connection with the adoption of a law that effectively bans the activities of the UOC.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86086
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On April 21, 2025, on Bright Monday, a hearing took place in the Dnipro Appellate Court in the case of Metropolitan Arseny of Sviatohirsk Lavra. The panel of judges reviewed the defense's appeal against the decision of the Sloviansk city district court, which decided to extend the bishop's detention until the end of May.
https://raskolam-net.info/en/?p=86104
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