Primate of UOC thanks Zelensky for starting peace-making process

His Beatitude Onuphry took part in the meeting of the President of Ukraine with religious leaders. Photo: president.gov.ua

His Beatitude Onuphry took part in the meeting of the President of Ukraine with religious leaders. Photo: president.gov.ua

On December 4, 2019, on the eve of negotiations between the “Norman Four” leaders in Paris, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine took part in a meeting of representatives of faiths and religious organizations of Ukraine with President Vladimir Zelensky, reports the official website of the head of State.

In connection with the upcoming summit, the President called on religious leaders to support the peace initiatives of the Ukrainian side.

“We are different, we have different denominations, churches, mosques, synagogues and the like. And this is normal, because we have a large, very beautiful, sometimes with difficulties, but our favourite country. I really believe in you,” Zelensky said, emphasizing that it was important for him to hear advice: then he would feel that “we are all together”.

The Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, supported the initiatives of the President.

“A person’s life cannot be justified or redeemed in any way. It is the most precious thing in the whole world. We are grateful to you for starting this peacekeeping mission, and we understand that this is a complex process. But it had to be started – the process cannot be successful if someone does not start it,” His Beatitude Vladyka noted and expressed his conviction that the peace issue must be resolved through dialogue.

On Monday, December 9, 2019, the first meeting in three years of the so-called “Norman Four” will take place in Paris, at which President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of France Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will discuss issues of resolving the conflict in the east of Ukraine.

As reported by the UOJ, earlier His Beatitude Onuphry called on the Ukrainians to help Vladimir Zelensky implement his good intentions.

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