Poroshenko awards orders to ex-Metrs. Simeon and Alexander (Drabinko)

Petro Poroshenko and ex-Metropolitans Simeon (Shostatsky) and Alexander (Drabinko)

President Petro Poroshenko awarded Metropolitans Simeon (Shostatsky) and Alexander (Drabinko), banned from ministry by the Holy Synod of the UOC, with orders. The corresponding decree of January 13 was published by the press service of the Head of State.

"To award the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, IV degree, to Shostatsky Vladimir Ivanovich (Simeon)," the decree says. Ex-Metropolitan Alexander (Drabinko) of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky received the same order, but V degree.

They proved to be worthy of an award "for their contribution to the establishment of spirituality, mercy and interfaith harmony, significant personal achievements in the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine," the decree reads.

Earlier, Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on conferring the "Hero of Ukraine" title with the award of the Order of the State upon “the honorary acting spiritual mentor” of the newly created church structure “Patriarch” Filaret Denisenko.

As reported, Metropolitan Simeon (Shostatsky) and Alexander (Drabinko), banned from ministry by the Holy Synod of the UOC, as part of the Ukrainian delegation travelled to Istanbul to participate in a joint worship service, during which the OCU head was granted the Tomos on autocephaly.

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