Source: www.forum18.org
Date: December 22, 2021
The first Christmas services in the Roman Catholic parishes in Luhansk and
Stakhanov since 2019 are due to go ahead, thanks to a Greek Catholic priest
from neighbouring Donetsk prepared to make the seven-hour round trip.
Parish priest Grzegorz Rapa left in March 2020 expecting to return, but the
authorities of the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic repeatedly
refused. The only two Masses in 2021 were both celebrated by the visiting
Greek Catholic priest. Asked why Catholics have not been allowed a resident
priest since 2020, Sergei Panteleyev of the Religious and Inter-Ethnic
Relations Sector of the Culture Ministry said: "Our department doesn't take
such a decision – it is decided at a higher level."
DONBAS: Luhansk: Christmas saved for parishes not allowed a priest
https://www.forum18.org/archiv
By Felix Corley, Forum 18
Roman Catholics in Luhansk and in the nearby town of Stakhanov who have not
been allowed to have a resident priest since spring 2020 will be able to
participate in Christmas Masses thanks to a Greek Catholic priest from
neighbouring Donetsk who is prepared to make the seven-hour round trip to
Luhansk. These will be the first Christmas services in either parish since
Christmas 2019.
The authorities of the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) in
eastern Ukraine have repeatedly refused to allow the return of Fr Grzegorz
Rapa to his parish since his departure in March 2020 or to allow the bishop
to name another priest (see below).
The visiting Greek Catholic priest from Donetsk has held the only Masses so
far in 2021 on 28 November in Luhansk and on 5 December in Stakhanov (see
below).
Following Fr Rapa's departure from Luhansk on 1 March 2020, between Easter
2020 and late November 2021 no Masses were held in the two Roman Catholic
parishes. Parishioners were only able to participate in online Mass shown
in the churches, and were deprived of the opportunity to receive Communion
– for Catholics an essential part of their faith. Or they could attend
worship at Luhansk's Greek Catholic church, though services there are in
the Eastern Rite only, which differs from the Mass Roman Catholics use (see
below).
Roman Catholic Bishop Jan Sobilo, assistant bishop of Kharkiv-Zaporozhia
who oversees the Luhansk and Stakhanov parishes, says he is "surprised"
that Fr Rapa has not been allowed to return to serve his parish. "It's
difficult to explain the reason," he told Forum 18. "He has served there
for 28 years." He said he would be praying for a resident priest to be
allowed to serve the parish in Luhansk (see below).
"Catholics in Luhansk are a registered religious community and no one
obstructs their activity," Sergei Panteleyev of the Religious and
Inter-Ethnic Relations Sector of the unrecognised LPR entity's Culture,
Sport and Youth Ministry claimed to Forum 18. Asked why the two parishes
have not been allowed a resident priest since March 2020, he said he was
"not informed". "Our department doesn't take such a decision – it is
decided at a higher level" (see below).
Officials at the entity's Foreign Ministry told Forum 18 that First Deputy
Minister Anna Soroka was off work, while Sergei Belov was not in the
office. Both had earlier rejected an appeal from the Luhansk parish for Fr
Rapa to be allowed to return (see below).
The rebel Luhansk authorities insist that religious communities that have
not undergone local registration are illegal. They point to a May 2015
Decree by Igor Plotnitsky, the then Head of the unrecognised LPR entity,
banning mass events while the area was under martial law, and the February
2018 local Religion Law approved by the LPR People's Council.
No Protestant communities have been allowed to gain registration, so cannot
meet openly in their places of worship. "The situation is still the same,"
a Kyiv-based Protestant who follows developments in Luhansk told Forum 18.
"Nothing is better, but at the same time nothing is worse" (see below).
Panteleyev of the Religious and Inter-Ethnic Relations Sector refused to
explain why the LPR authorities have refused to register any Protestant or
Jehovah's Witness communities and why communities that meet without
permission risk punishment (see below).
Pro-Russian rebels seized parts of Ukraine's Luhansk Region in March 2014
and the following month proclaimed what they called the Luhansk People's
Republic (LPR). Heavy fighting ensued. The LPR rebel administration, which
currently controls about a third of Ukraine's Luhansk Region, has declared
a state of martial law.
Pro-Russian rebels similarly seized parts of Ukraine's Donetsk Region in
April 2014 and proclaimed what they called the Donetsk People's Republic
(DPR). Heavy fighting ensued. The DPR rebel administration currently
controls nearly half of Ukraine's Donetsk Region. The DPR-held area adjoins
the LPR-held area of Ukraine's Luhansk Region.
In its latest report on the human rights situation in Ukraine, the United
Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine criticised restrictions
in rebel-held areas of both Luhansk and Donetsk, including "unreasonably
heavy bureaucratic requirements and criminal sanctions for religious
activities that are equated with extremist activity". The report noted that
these restrictions continue to have "a profound impact on the rights to
freedoms of association and of religion or belief" (see below).
Restrictions "a tool to obstruct religious activities", say United Nations
In its latest report, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in
Ukraine noted that the restrictions on the exercise of freedom of religion
or belief in rebel held areas of Luhansk and Donetsk were also a
restriction on other human rights. "Freedom of association remains
restricted, as numerous religious organizations were unable to operate in
territory controlled by both 'republics'," its report "Civic Space and
Fundamental Freedoms in Ukraine
(https://www.ohchr.org/Documen
published on 8 December 2021, pointed out.
The UN report identified among the restrictions on religious groups
"unreasonably heavy bureaucratic requirements and criminal sanctions for
religious activities that are equated with extremist activity", adding that
they continue to have "a profound impact on the rights to freedoms of
association and of religion or belief".
"As of 31 October 2021, several religious organisations were still unable
to operate as requirements of obligatory 'registration' of religious
organisations remained in force, which 'authorities' used as a tool to
obstruct religious activities or shut them down completely." The report
noted that this has particularly affected Protestant and Jehovah's Witness
communities.
Two Catholic parishes, no resident priest
The region controlled by the LPR has two Roman Catholic parishes, Nativity
of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Luhansk and a smaller parish in Stakhanov
[official Ukrainian name Kadiyevka]. Fr Grzegorz Rapa, a Polish priest, has
served in Luhansk since 1993.
Fr Rapa left the region on 1 March 2020, intending to return for the
remainder of his permitted three-month period. However, the border between
the LPR and Ukrainian-controlled Ukraine was then closed because of the
coronavirus pandemic. The border did not reopen until November 2020, but
the LPR entity's rulers did not allow Fr Rapa to return
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
not have permanent residence – even though he lived in Luhansk for 21
years before the LPR was itself proclaimed.
Mass was celebrated in the Catholic Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Church in Luhansk on 12 April 2020. The Greek Catholic priest from Donetsk
Fr Mikhaylo Zaverchuk – who serves in both the Byzantine and Latin rites
– was able to visit the parish for Easter 2020. The journey from Donetsk
to Luhansk takes about three and a half hours by road. However, as
relations between the rebel leaderships of Donetsk and Luhansk worsened in
2020 and coronavirus infections spread, the border was closed and Fr
Zaverchuk was unable to visit Luhansk again.
During 2020 and 2021, Catholics in Luhansk and Stakhanov have gathered on
Sundays for prayer services led by laypeople or for online Masses,
including by Fr Rapa. However, this means that local Catholics are deprived
of the opportunity to receive Communion. Receiving Communion is for
Catholics an integral part of participating in the Mass.
When the Greek Catholic priest is able to visit Luhansk, Roman Catholics
can also attend Greek Catholic Liturgy in their church. The Greek Catholic
priest is able to enter the region as he has local registration, but does
not live there permanently as his wife and family live elsewhere in
Ukraine.
For Christmas, visiting priest only
The border between the DPR and LPR reopened on 18 June 2021, allowing the
Donetsk-based Greek Catholic priest Fr Mikhaylo Zaverchuk to make the long
journey to Luhansk again. The only Masses held so far in 2021 were the ones
he celebrated on Sunday 28 November in Luhansk and on Sunday 5 December in
Stakhanov.
Fr Zaverchuk plans to travel from Donetsk to Luhansk again to celebrate
Christmas vigil Mass in Stakhanov on 24 December and Mass in Luhansk on 25
December, local Catholics told Forum 18 on 21 December. These will be the
first Christmas services in either parish since Christmas 2019.
This means that this is the second Christmas in a row when Roman Catholics
in Luhansk and Stakhanov do not have their own resident priest to lead
Christmas services.
Why can't the priest return?
The LPR authorities have given conflicting reasons as to why Fr Rapa cannot
return to the two parishes in the territory they control. In early 2020,
the border between the LPR and Ukrainian-controlled Ukraine was closed
because of the coronavirus pandemic. Even when the border reopened in
November 2020, Fr Rapa was still refused permission to return. That month,
LPR authorities refused him entry at the Stanitsa Luhanska crossing point,
as they also did in early April 2021
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
On 17 March 2021, Luhansk Catholics appealed to the unrecognised LPR
entity's head Leonid Pasechnik to allow Fr Rapa to return. Pasechnik passed
the letter to the entity's Foreign Ministry. Its 7 April response –
prepared by Sergei Belov, signed by First Deputy Minister Anna Soroka and
seen by Forum 18 – informed local Catholics that a Ministry working group
had rejected the application
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
June 2020 Decree.
The Decree allows in only individuals with residence registration in
Luhansk, who have relatives there, or are coming to look after someone who
is ill or for medical treatment, education, or the funeral of a close
relative.
"Catholics in Luhansk are a registered religious community and no one
obstructs their activity," Sergei Panteleyev of the Religious and
Inter-Ethnic Relations Sector of the unrecognised LPR entity's Culture,
Sport and Youth Ministry claimed to Forum 18 on 21 December. Asked why the
two parishes have not been allowed a resident priest since March 2020, he
said he was "not informed". "Our department doesn't take such a decision
– it is decided at a higher level."
Officials at the entity's Foreign Ministry told Forum 18 on 21 December
that Soroka was off work, while Belov was not in the office each time Forum
18 called on 21 and 22 December.
Roman Catholic Bishop Jan Sobilo, assistant bishop of Kharkiv-Zaporozhia
who oversees the Luhansk and Stakhanov parishes, says he is "surprised"
that Fr Rapa has not been allowed to return to serve his parish. "It's
difficult to explain the reason," he told Forum 18 on 20 December. "He has
served there for 28 years."
Bishop Sobilo added: "We pray and ask God not to leave the people of
Luhansk with no resident priest and pray that officials will open a green
channel for a Roman Catholic priest for Luhansk."
"The bishop is unable to send anyone as none of the priests have permanent
(or temporary) residence in Luhansk," Fr Rapa told Forum 18 on 11 December.
"Only those with such permanent residence are able to enter Luhansk." He
said he aims to try again in mid-January 2022 to get permission to return
to his parish. "Hopes are small that they will let me in, but I will
struggle to the last."
Catholic, Orthodox bishops cannot visit
Roman Catholic Bishop Jan Sobilo has been denied entry to LPR-controlled
territory since he visited with the Vatican nuncio at Christmas 2019. "I
have not tried again to visit recently," Bishop Sobilo told Forum 18.
"There's no point as they wouldn't let me in." He said he would be praying
for officials in Luhansk that they could work peacefully for the common
good in 2022 and that he would once more be allowed to visit.
The unrecognised LPR entity has also denied entry to successive bishops of
the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Diocese of Luhansk and Starobilsk. The
then-Bishop Afanasi (Yavorsky) – who had not visited Luhansk since 2014 -
tried again to visit his parish in Luhansk in mid-2020 but the rebel
authorities again refused permission.
Bishop Lavrenty (Migovich), who took up his duties in May 2021, went in
July to the Stanitsa Luhanska crossing point, hoping to be allowed to
travel to visit his parishes in Luhansk. However, officials on the LPR side
refused to allow him entry. "They said they had no instructions to allow me
in," Bishop Lavrenty told Forum 18 in July
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
"Nothing is better, but at the same time nothing is worse"
The LPR authorities have not allowed any Protestant or Jehovah's Witness
communities to gain registration, so they cannot meet openly in their
places of worship. "The situation is still the same," a Kyiv-based
Protestant who follows developments in Luhansk told Forum 18 on 13
December. "Nothing is better, but at the same time nothing is worse."
Courts earlier fined Protestants and Jehovah's Witnesses for continuing to
hold meetings for worship. Courts handed down many such fines
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
In July 2018, the LPR State Security Ministry banned the Ukrainian Baptist
Union as a "destructive" and "extremist" organisation
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
congregations.
Sergei Panteleyev of the Religious and Inter-Ethnic Relations Sector
refused to explain to Forum 18 why the LPR authorities have refused to
register any Protestant or Jehovah's Witness communities or why those
meeting for worship without permission risk punishment.
Council of Churches Baptists – who meet for worship without seeking
permission from officials anywhere in the countries and territories of the
region – were among those that faced raids on their meetings for worship
and fines on their leaders
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Baptist told Forum 18 on 21 December that their communities have faced no
raids or fines in 2021.
Of the 26 items on the latest version of the LPR "State List of Extremist
Materials", 18 are published by Protestants (including a Baptist-published
edition of the Russian Synodal translation of the Gospel of John
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Witness-published (including their New World version of the Bible
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
translation of the Gospel of John has been published in many editions and
is also widely used by Orthodox, Protestants and others.
The latest additions of religious books to the banned list came in July
2021. Roman Gubaydulin, the acting Deputy General Prosecutor, who is based
in Luhansk, lodged a suit to Sverdlovsk City and District Court in spring
2021 to have four Protestant books declared "extremist" and banned. The
books had apparently been seized from Council of Churches Baptists in or
near the eastern town of Sverdlovsk [official Ukrainian name Dovzhansk],
close to the border with Russia. On 18 May, the Court upheld the suit and
declared the four books "extremist"
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
then added them to the banned list. (END)
Full reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Donbas
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
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