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Ukrainian Orthodox leader tries to overcome PR problem

HIS BEATITUDE ONUFREY EXPLAINS WHY HE DID NOT STAND WHEN POROSHENKO READ NAMES OF HEROES OF UKRAINE

UNIAN 9 May 2015

 

The primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine Onufrey, explained [in a video] why he did not stand on 8 May during the solemn session of the Supreme Soviet (Verkhovna Rada), when President Petro Poroshenko read the names of heroes of Ukraine.

 

As the UPTs Center of Information reports, His Beatitude Onufrey called it a sign of protest against war as a phenomenon.

 

"Indeed, when the president spoke in his speech about the war in the Donbass land and about heroes who distinguished themselves there in that armed conflict, we did not stand. And this was not a sign of disregard for heroes of Ukraine. We honor and respect these people. These are people who have received great honor, such a high state award, and this award is given to them for the fact that they risked their life, and several gave their life for this. We again express to these people our great honor and respect," the primate of the church emphasized.

 

At the same time, Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine Onufrey explained: "We did not stand because this was our sign of protest against war as a phenomenon."

 

"We do not want for the war to be continued in our land. We do not want for people to kill one another. We want peace, and that God's blessing be upon our land," His Beatitude Onufrey noted.

 

As reported in news media, on 8 May representatives of UPTs did not rise during the solemn session of parliament when President Petro Poroshenko read the names of the heroes of Ukraine who received this title during the antiterrorism operation.

 

On 9 May, Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine Onufrey participated in honoring the memory of soldiers and of all who perished in the years of war, which occurred at the Eternal Flame in the capital's Park of Glory.

 

Then His Beatitude served a requiem litany at the grave of the Unknown Soldier. Metropolitan Onufrey also met with veterans of the Second World War and thanked them for their achievement and wished them good health and God's blessing. (tr. by PDS, posted 9 May 2015)


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