Adviser to President of Ukraine: I am an atheist but of Kiev Patriarchate
Yuriy Biriukov with the President of Ukraine
Adviser to the President of Ukraine Yuriy Biryukov called himself an atheist of the Kiev Patriarchate. He said this on his Facebook page, commenting on the meeting of Patriarch Bartholomew and Patriarch Kirill on August 31 in Istanbul.
"I'm really an atheist," Biriukov said. Absolutely. But the atheist of the Kiev Patriarchate, of course. And I’ve been keeping track of the developments regarding the granting of the Tomos not because it would somehow have an impact on me but because it is necessary for the whole country."
This is not the first atheist concerned about receiving the Tomos on autocephaly for Ukraine. Earlier, blogger-journalist Aider Muzhdabaev said that although he is an atheist, he is in favor of autocephaly. At the same time, the blogger called the Tomos a "landmark decision" for Ukraine, while all those disagreeing with this decision were attributed to the "motley crew".
Yuriy Biriukov was appointed adviser to the President of Ukraine in 2014.
Read also
Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer
In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.
Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova
Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".
Bancheny Monastery reports provocation
The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.
Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine
On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.
Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution
At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.
Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession
The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.