President awards the "Hero of Ukraine" title to Filaret Denisenko
"Honorary acting spiritual mentor" of the OCU "Patriarch" Filaret Denisenko and President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko
On January 8, 2019, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed the Decree on conferring upon the “honorary acting spiritual mentor” of the newly-established church structure "Patriarch" Filaret Denisenko the title of the Hero of Ukraine with the award of the Order of the State, reports the official site of the Presidential Administration.
The presidential press service says that the 'Hero of Ukraine' title is being awarded to Filaret for his outstanding historical role in the establishment of an independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine, activities aimed at reviving the spirituality of the Ukrainian people, strengthening the authority of Orthodoxy, promoting ideals of compassion and interreligious harmony.
The President himself called Denisenko "the spiritual leader of the Ukrainian people".
"The measure that can be used to measure the contribution of Patriarch Filaret to the fight for the Local Church has not yet been invented. He was, is and remains the spiritual leader of the Ukrainian church, the spiritual leader of the Ukrainian people. That is why I've decided to award him the 'Hero of Ukraine' title," Poroshenko wrote on Facebook on January 8.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted in favour of including the anniversary of Filaret Denisenko in the list of memorable dates for 2019.
Read also
Moldova lacks capacity to maintain 800 temples it intends to seize from Church
According to the Minister of Culture, authorities plan to seize 800 churches from the Moldovan Church, but they lack the capability to manage them.
Court returns seized church to UOC community in Ivankiv
The appellate court declared invalid the re-registration of the UOC community of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the town of Ivankiv.
2,800-year-old seal with biblical symbols found in Israel
Israeli archaeologists have found a stone seal from the era of Judean kings with an inscription in ancient Hebrew.
Pope warns clergy against writing AI-based sermons
The head of the Roman Catholic Church warned priests about the risks of using digital technologies in ministry.
UOC parishes abroad hold memorial services on war anniversary
Clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church abroad prayed on the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Persecuted UOC parish in Tovtry performs reading of Great Penitential Canon
Another Bukovynian community, deprived of its church, continues Great Lent services in an adapted facility.