Poroshenko supported an address to Patriarch Bartholomew on granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church
President Petro Poroshenko thanked the Parliamentarians for the address of the Verkhovna Rada to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church and emphasized that such step is highly important, since an opinion of the secular power is normally relevant to the matter.
"We hope, His Eminence will be able to hear our message. Even more citizens wish to have a single autocephalous local church,” declared the President.
He noted he does not mean having a “pocket state church”. “Freedom of conscience will by no means be restricted for whoever it may concern. Each Ukrainian has the right to believe in God in his own way and attend his own church,” Poroshenko remarked.
It will be reminded that earlier representative of Constantinople Patriarchate Archbishop Job of Telmessos made it clear that according to canonic principles, “there can be only One Church on one territory. Thus, it is impossible to have two autocephalous churches on one territory. One should have church unity to proclaim autocephaly.”
Read also
UOC comments on court annulment of DESS “expert review”
The Legal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has rebutted DESS’s claim that the court did not overturn the conclusion of the religious expert review of the UOC Statute.
UOC hierarch holds memorial service for victims of Kulykove Pole tragedy
Memorial services were held at the Holy Dormition Monastery in Odesa for all those who died as a result of the tragic events of May 2, 2014.
ROCOR rejects to receive clerics of Constantinople Patriarchate
The hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Munich declined Bishop Emilianos’ petition and rescinded the reception of a deacon from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
DESS experts are publicly linked to OCU – legal scholar
Professor of law Dmytro Vovk noted that DESS experts operate “from the orbit of a competing enterprise,” violating the principle of impartiality.
In Kyiv, fines for destruction of architectural monuments to be increased
The authorities acknowledged that the current sanctions do not stop developers from destroying the cultural heritage of the capital.
UOC monk detained by police in Zhytomyr region, handed over to draft office
Police reportedly used force during the detention of a hieromonk of the Zhytomyr Eparchy of the UOC.