Patriarch Kirill congratulates Poroshenko on Independence Day, hopes for development of Church-state interaction

Source: Interfax-Religion

Moscow, August 24, 2016

  

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has sent a message to Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko, in which he congratulated all residents of the country on the 25th anniversary of the declaration of independence.

"In 1991, Ukraine chose a path of independent development. Having taken that path, it entered a new reality and was faced with many new, often severe challenges. To my deep regret, the conflict in the eastern part of the country remains one of them," the patriarch said in his message to Poroshenko, which was quoted by the patriarch's press service on Wednesday.

The patriarch said he is confident that "the peacemaking efforts of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church will continue promoting the creation of civil peace and accord in society and the establishment of traditional moral values among people."

He also said he is hoping for the development of constructive Church-state interaction in Ukraine.

"His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, saying that he prays for the wellbeing of all citizens of Ukraine, the softening of cruel hearts and the reconciliation of enemies, wished the people of Ukraine spiritual and bodily strength and help from the Lord in their good endeavors," the press service said.

Interfax-Religion

8/25/2016

See also
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"We all should give all possible support to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry, the episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, its clergy and faithful in their efforts for peace. Your Beatitude, your efforts are an example of how Orthodox Christians seek unity there where division is propagated and sow love there where hatred is spread."
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"Ukraine has only one Ukrainian Orthodox Church recognized by all Orthodox Churches, and therefore, if people want to be in communion with the ecumenical Orthodox faith, they should reunite with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on the basis of the canons that exist in ecumenical Orthodoxy. There is no other way, and there is no other message to Ukraine from the patriarchs today," he said.
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He expressed concerns about the actions taken by some hierarchs of the Constantinople patriarchate, who express their support to the schismatics, allegedly on behalf of the Constantinople patriarchate, during visits to Ukraine thus causing division among believers.
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