Debate on self-immolation ongoing in Chornobyl

(RISU) - The Donetsk Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate condemned the actions of Chornobyl disaster liquidators (people who clean the nuclear disaster area) who organized a procession on 29 November with an empty coffin, which, according to UNIAN, was left in front of the Donetsk City Council, after the death of one of the protesters during the forced dismantling of their tents near the Pension Fund by police on 27 November. The eparchy called the protesters to repent for that action. According to radio Freedom, the spokesman of the eparchy, Heorhii Huliaiev stated that the Church views the action of the protesters as “humiliation of the Christian symbols.” “The cross should not be used by any means,” said the priest.

He also noted that the Church does not support self-immolation with which the protesters threatened the authorities if their tents are dismantled. Huliaiev criticized the statement of a representative of the Kyivan Patriarchate who said that there were incidents in history when the Church did not condemn acts of self-immolation.