Prime Minister of Ukraine

                                                                                                                                 Yuliya V. Tymoshenko

          An open letter against discrimination of conscience and belief

Dear Mrs Tymoshenko,

we are turning to You in a very serious matter which has a great influence on a true spiritual revival and spiritual resurrection of Ukraine.

Head of the UGCC, Card. Husar, publicly proclaims heresies: he casts doubt upon the Divinity of Christ and upon the Virginity of the Mother of God, approves of homosexuality, he himself divines by pendulum, casts doubt upon the eternity of hell. Owing to these and other heresies he excluded himself from the Church. That was the reason why a new Bishops’ Synod was established in Ukraine.

The heretical Synod has committed many defamations and injustices against us and against all who are in unity with us. E.g. a violent action against the contemplative sisters in Bryukhovychi on 31st July 2009 and soon after a similar action against the sisters in the village of Probizhna. Even because of these actions the orthodox Catholic Bishops’ Synod decided on 11th August 2009 to separate from the UGCC hierarchy and to establish a new Church independent of them under the name of the Ukrainian orthodox Greek-Catholic Church (UOGCC). The orthodox Church has the same teaching as the UGCC except for the heresies of Card. Husar and the hierarchy united with him. The Ukrainian orthodox Greek-Catholic Church is headed by Metropolitan M. Osidach and the Synod’s Secretary, Bishop M. V. Hitiuk OSBM – both of them Ukrainians. Among the members of the Bishops’ Synod there are also citizens of the Czech and the Slovak Republic whom Mr Reshetnikov from the State Committee on Matters of Nationalities and Religions roughly and unfairly defames, thereby referring to canonical laws and penalties. However, in accordance with these laws none of the Orthodox Churches would have a right to exist in Ukraine.

The UOGCC has 10 priests and about 30 candidates for priesthood. More than 60 contemplative sisters from 5 monasteries have transferred under the spiritual authority of the UOGCC which now numbers more than 1000 faithful! All these are artificially and lawlessly exposed to religious discrimination on the part of the UGCC leadership as well as on the part of the state.

In Ukraine there is Moscow Orthodox Church, Kievan Orthodox Church and Autocephalous Orthodox Church. According to the laws of Ukraine, nothing hinders registration of the UOGCC besides the UGCC. However, this is not desirable for the UGCC leadership so it dishonestly influences state authorities towards violation of the laws of Ukraine in the matters of freedom of conscience and thus towards religious discrimination. After numerous efforts at registration the State Committee on Matters of Nationalities and Religions definitively rejected whatever further communication with us.

We emphasize that this committee is subordinated directly to You, Mrs Yuliya Volodymyrivna. Therefore full responsibility for this crime of violation of the laws of Ukraine in the matters of freedom of conscience falls upon You!

You are a candidate for presidency. Prove that You have nothing in common with this crime.

We ask You: Please, do Your best and see to it that in accordance with the Ukrainian laws the UOGCC is registered before the election! You will thus manifest that You have at heart a true spiritual revival and spirtual resurrection of Ukraine.

Thank You in advance.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

                                                             Bishop Markian Hitiuk OSBM

                                                      Secretary of the Synod of the UOGCC

                                                                                                                                Lvov, 28th October 2009

Copies to:

-         The Holy Father Benedict XVI

-         V. Yushchenko, President of Ukraine

-         V. Yanukovych, candidate for presidency

-         MPs of the Ukrainian Parliament