Church division in Ukraine provokes fratricide, – Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine sent a letter to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia concerning the situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reports DECR Communication Service of the ROC.

In his message, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III notes that "the Ukrainian Church has found itself in the deplorable situation due to the church division which has provoked disorders and fratricide, conflicts and troubles for the Orthodox flock".

On behalf of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre and on his behalf His Beatitude expresses to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sincere support and calls upon "all the responsible and authoritative persons to make every effort to prevent such actions in future".

Earlier His Holiness Patriarch Kirill informed the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem of the attempts of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to adopt the bills Nos. 4128 and 4511 that imply the discriminatory measures against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.