Комісія Людських та Громадянських Прав Commission on Human and Civil Rights
295 COLLEGE STREET, 3rd FLOOR, TORONTO ON M5T 1S2 CANADA TEL. (416) 323-3020 FAX (416) 323-3250
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12 February 2002
The Honourable Gennadii Selezniov
Speaker
State Duma of the Russian Federation
Moscow, Russia
Honourable Mr. Selezniov,
It has come to our attention that you have recently had an exchange of views with His Holiness Aleksei II, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, regarding His Holiness proposal that the teaching of
catechism by servants of the Russian Orthodox Church be obligatory in secondary schools in Russia, and similarly of theology in institutions of higher learning. We have, in particular, noted your
concern that such practice might be inconsistent with the principle of separation of church and state, which is enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
Our Commission would like to bring to your attention a case in which the Russian Orthodox Church seemingly imposed its will on the state and the judiciary process. We refer to the conflict between
the faithful of the Bogoiavlenskaia parish of the Orthodox Church, Kiev Patriarchate, in Noginsk and the Moscow Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church. At a hearing of the Moscow Court of
Arbitration regarding this matter, archpriest Alexandr Ganaba, who represented Metropolitan Yuvenalii of the Moscow Eparchy, stated, "for the Moscow Patriarchate the ukaze of President Yeltsin and
the Constitution of the Russian Federation do not exist. We shall take the Sobor in any case. Everything shall be as we desire". Later, in October 1997, after the parishioners and priests of the
Bogoiavlenskaia parish were beaten and forcibly removed, Metropolitan Yuvenalii stated the following during a sermon in the Bogoiavlenskii Sobor: "At last we have finished with the Ukrainian filth,
and the Sobor has been liberated from a five-year imprisonment." Sadly, this case is but one of many indications that the Russian Orthodox Church does not subscribe to the principles of tolerance
and mutual respect among religious denominations, which is the accepted norm worldwide in the new millennium. The Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate seems to be particularly
intolerant of Ukrainian churches and spirituality.
We are concerned that the involvement of priests and other servants of the Russian Orthodox Church in the public educational institutions of the Russian Federation may be used as a forum for
preaching intolerance towards other denominations, and the Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Greek Catholic faiths in particular. We fear that this would not foster good relations, mutual respect and
friendship between Russians and Ukrainians.
For your information, we append detailed documentation, which was collected by our Commission, about the sad events in Noginsk. We appeal for your assistance in resolving this unfortunate
conflict.
We wish you success in your task as Speaker of the State Duma, and many years of fruitful service for the good of all peoples of the Russian Federation.
Sincerely yours,
Jurij Darewych
Chair
Лист проф.Даревича спікеру Селєзньову (Eng.)
- Деталі
- Розділ: Світовий Конгрес Українців