Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City

Pope Francis condemns Kiev's ban on Ukrainian Orthodox Church

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 25 Aug 2024 15:34
  • 3 Shares
2 Min Read

Ukrainian leader Zelensky approved the bill banning the church on Kiev's independence day from the Soviet Union.

Listen
  • x
  • Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi Blessing, after celebrating Easter Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican on April 4, 2021. (AFP)
    Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi Blessing, after celebrating Easter Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican on April 4, 2021. (AFP)

Pope Francis condemned Kiev's legislative ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Sunday during his weekly prayers. 

"Do not touch churches," the pope said, one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the bill into the legislation on the country's independence day from the Soviet Union.

"In thinking of the law recently adopted in Ukraine, I fear for the liberty of those who pray," the Catholic Church leader added.

Ukraine has sought to distance itself from the church since 2014. The efforts were expedited following the start of its war with Russia in February 2022.

Related News

Pope Leo XIV calls for press freedom, release of jailed journalists

White smoke rises: US Cardinal Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV - Vatican

Although the church severed ties with the Moscow Patriarchate in 2022, Ukrainian officials continue to accuse its clerics of being loyal to Russia, and have repeatedly persecuted them.

Commenting on the ongoing conflict between the two countries, the pope said he continued to follow developments "with sorrow."

Medvedev condemns Ukraine’s crackdown on Orthodox Church as 'satanism'

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has condemned Ukraine's recent actions against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) as "satanism" and a move to "outdo the atheism of the Soviet period."

In a harsh critique, Medvedev stated that while the Soviet Union, despite its atheist stance, did not ban religions, the current Ukrainian authorities, which he dubbed "neo-Nazi', appeared to be undertaking a more extreme approach.

"This vile story was started, as we know, by Poroshenko," Medvedev declared.

He accused Ukrainian officials of launching a "vile story" against the UOC, a campaign he attributes to former President Petro Poroshenko. "In order to please his own ambitions and to be elected president of Ukraine, he agreed with the West on a split in Orthodoxy and the creation of the heretical PCU," Medvedev explained.

  • Pope Francis
  • Ukrainian Orthodox Church
  • UOC
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • Volodymyr Zelensky
  • Vatican
  • Catholic Church
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Saudi's PIF refocuses on AI, logistics, and religious tourism
Economy

Saudi Arabia's fund refocuses on AI, logistics, and religious tourism

Detained Bahraini activist al-Khawaja starts new hunger strike.
Politics

Detained Bahraini activist al-Khawaja starts new hunger strike

Israel fortifies Gaza’s "yellow line," prepares to dig in.
Politics

'Israel' fortifies Gaza’s 'yellow line,' prepares to dig in: WSJ

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One as he travels from Tokyo, Japan, to South Korea, on October 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Asia

Trump’s weak dollar strategy risks global fallout: Forbes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS