A criminal case related to the distribution of anti-Semitic tracts has been opened in Odessa. The Security Service of the Ukraine (SBU) said it will investigate the case, together with the prosecutor’s office. Vladimir Romanenko, the head of the press service of the Odessa branch of the SBU, declined to comment on the situation before the conclusion of the investigation.
Oleg Mokryak, Chairman of religious education, catechism, and missionary work in the Odessa Diocese [of the MP], said that the leaflets amounted to eight pages of printed material qualifying any relations with Jews as sinful, and listing numerous proverbs and sayings smearing Jews. The leaflets bear the signature of the Orthodox Community of Odessa. Mr Mokryak said that the Orthodox Church condemns [these leaflets] and considers the anti-Semitic activity launched by the so-called Orthodox Community of Odessa in late 2007 and early 2008 unacceptable.
The organisers of the action are seeking to provoke open action from some Odessa residents against Jews, said Rav Avraam Volf, Chief Rabbi of Odessa and southern Ukraine. “The authors of this leaflet and those behind them are bloodthirsty. They do not want to go on fishing in murky waters any more, they want to fish in rivers streaming with blood”, he said.
Interfax-Religion
(Editor’s note: It is sad to relate that Ukrainian “nationalists” in schismatic bodies outside of the canonical Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church of the MP are stirring up such hatred. Both Metropolitan Vladimir Sabodan of Kiev (of the canonical MP Church) and Patriarch Aleksei Rediger of Moscow and all Russia (primate of the MP Holy Synod) condemn such incitements to hate without reservation.)
There are few jews in Odessa now. They leave Odessa last 20 years
Comment by Знаменка — Sunday, 20 January 2008 @ 04:21