RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS



Ukrainian patriarch chides Moscow-oriented church

PATRIARCH FILARET CALLS UPTsMP TO MAKE UP MIND: IS IT WITH UKRAINE OR NOT

RISU, 1 December 2014

 

The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev patriarchate (UPTsKP), Patriarch Filaret, called the clergy of the Moscow patriarchate to decide whom to serve—Ukraine or the Russian people.

 

Filaret stated this during communal prayer for Ukraine in the Mikhailov Square, 5 Channel reports.

 

The patriarch said that Ukrainian Orthodox churches are ready to unite in a single local church, but Russia has not given permission to the Moscow patriarchate to separate.

 

"The Orthodox Church needs to be united. But you see that the Moscow patriarchate does not very much want to unite because Moscow will not permit it. But the circumstances of life have shaped up such that they must answer one question: whom are you with? with the Ukrainian people or with the Russian people? whom do you serve?", the patriarch noted.

 

At the same time he added: "We nevertheless will create a single local Orthodox Church in Ukraine. And when we will have a united Orthodox Church, no enemies will frighten us." (tr. by PDS, posted 3 December 2014)


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