Orthodox Christians from Lithuania protested to the Sejm about plans to take over churches from the LOC.
On November 8, several congregations of the canonical Lithuanian Orthodox Church held meetings regarding discriminatory bills in Seimas.
The members of the community drafted appeals to the leadership and members of parliament regarding the bills that state:
Confiscation of the Holy Spiritual Monastery and a number of ancient Orthodox churches from the LOC with their subsequent transfer to the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Possibility of removing the Lithuanian Orthodox Church from the list of traditional religious communities of Lithuania.
"In their appeals, community members expressed a strong protest against the proposed legislative initiatives that create an opportunity for gross violations of the rights of Orthodox believers in Lithuania. The requests of the community members emphasize that they intend to maintain their affiliation with the Lithuanian Orthodox Church to another church, and do not intend to switch to another church.
The faithful also expressed support for Metropolitan Innocent of Vilnius and Lithuania, affirming their faith in the primates and their desire to preserve the unity of the Church and the canonical order.
According to the diocese, the faithful are experiencing "extreme anxiety and worry." Previously, 9 congregations of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church, as well as the monastic community of the Holy Spirit Monastery, sent their requests to Simas.