His Beatitude Onuphry: At the inauguration, President spoke from the heart

Предстоятель Украинской Православной Церкви Блаженнейший Митрополит Киевский и всея Украины Онуфрий. Фото: YouTube-канал Информационно-просветительского отдела УПЦ

At the inauguration, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky spoke from the heart, said the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine in an interview with the UOC Information and Education Department.

“I liked in this ceremony that the President spoke from the heart. He spoke in a simple way. And I think that the words he spoke were not some kind of masquerade, but this was what fills his soul and what is his main desires in his cadence of the presidency. This is the end of the war, this is what will improve people’s living conditions in our state to unite the state and not to divide on any grounds. It is necessary to unite people, not disunite,” said the Primate.

According to him, the inauguration of Zelensky was the apotheosis, the culmination of the choice of the majority of Ukrainians, which they made at the last election of the President of Ukraine.

We want the President to treat us, our Church, like everyone, His Beatitude Onuphry shared his thoughts with journalists.

“So that we will be equal before the law so that there will be no friends and foes,” he added.

The Primate wished Zelensky God’s help in the implementation of his plans as he is sure that the new President of Ukraine has good plans.

“He has good intentions. May God help him to make them 100% come true!” the Archpastor emphasized.

On May 20, 2019, His Beatitude Onuphry took part in the inauguration of President Zelensky. The Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine announced that the newly elected President had taken office. The head of state, after receiving the certificate of the President of Ukraine and the symbols of power, a personal seal and a mace, made an inaugural speech.

Archimandrite Alipiy (Svetlichny) also shared the impressions that Zelensky’s speech produced on him. “It was evident that he was sincere. Not excited, as Poroshenko at his time, about the attributes of power but took them with restraint. During the speech, he allowed himself to switch to Russian and exchanged barbs with the deputy Liashko. Neither ingratiated himself nor showed favouritism. All this is positive, the clergyman wrote on Facebook. “It is impossible to draw conclusions yet. It can only be stated that the President is unusual, with a lively reaction, humane. What is he capable of? Most likely, of unexpected and experimental solutions. The religious theme does not bother him yet. Perhaps he underestimates her. Or maybe he chose tactics, unlike his “predecessors", not to touch something that does not bring the useful fruit of the unity of the people."

Read also

Ostapenko: Kyiv Lavra exists thanks to the creation of a reserve there

The head of the Lavra reserve, Maksym Ostapenko, has announced plans to mark the 100th anniversary of the Bolsheviks’ creation of the “Museum Town” at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

U.S. growing brainless and limbless embryos for organ harvesting

CRISPR editing technology disables the development of the brain, central nervous system, and limbs. The company plans to grow such “bodies” in pigs for organ transplantation into humans.

PACE raises concern over combating anti-Semitism and Islamophobia

In Resolution No. 2647 on freedom of religion in Europe, the Assembly linked the rise in antisemitic incidents to the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, and the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

PACE rejects sanctions against Patriarch Kirill and ROC hierarchy

An amendment submitted by the Ukrainian delegation led by Oleksiy Honcharenko to a resolution on religious freedom in Europe failed to win enough support – with 36 votes in favor, 51 against, and 9 abstentions.

French TV compares Christian cross to Nazi symbolism

During a French television broadcast, crosses bearing the inscription “Hail Christ the King,” installed near Nice, were compared to neo-Nazi slogans.

Beer-pizza hockey game broadcast held in Canadian Catholic cathedral

At St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, a screening of a Montreal Canadiens game featured immersive projections, organ music, the national anthem, and alcohol sales.