Patriarch Kirill: No independent church in Ukraine
KIEV, Ukraine — The head of the Russian Orthodox Church rejected calls from Ukraine’s president to create a local Orthodox church that would be independent from Moscow, saying he firmly supports the status quo.
Patriarch Kirill arrived in Ukraine for a prolonged visit, which observers say is aimed at reasserting Moscow’s religious and political influence over this predominantly Orthodox nation of 46 million, which is trying to integrate with the West.
President Viktor Yushchenko has led a campaign to win recognition of a separatist church that broke away from the Moscow Patriarchate in the 1990s.
“The main aspiration of the Ukrainian people is to live in a united, self-governing Apostolic Orthodox church,” Yushchenko said in a speech, standing alongside Kirill.
Kirill was quick to stress that the dominant Orthodox church in Ukraine, which answers to Moscow, is the only legitimate church here.
“This church, Mr. President, already exists,” Kirill said. “If it didn’t exist today, Ukraine wouldn’t exist either.”
“But wounds have formed in this church and these wounds must be healed,” he said.
The two leaders made the statements after laying flowers at a memorial commemorating the victims of a 1932-33 famine that killed millions which was engineered by Soviet authorities to abolish private land ownership.
Yushchenko is also leading a campaign to win recognition of the famine as an act of genocide; Moscow counters that the campaign was not aimed specifically at Ukrainians.
Kirill said that he mourns the tragedy and prays for all those who perished, but stressed that other ethnic groups, including Russians, also suffered.
The Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the Kremlin, worry about losing dominance in Ukraine.
The mainstream, Moscow-aligned church claims about 28 million believers, while the separatist Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kiev Patriarchate claims about 14 million followers. Opinion polls show the splinter church’s popularity is growing.
Earlier Monday, Kirill led a service on St. Volodymyr Hill in central Kiev near the statue of Prince Volodymyr, who launched the Slavic world’s conversion to Christianity in 988. Kirill called for friendship, brotherhood and unity.
Yushchenko, who has sought to break free from Russia’s centuries-old political dominance and integrate with the European Union and NATO, has appealed to the spiritual leader of the world’s 250 million Orthodox believers, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, to recognize the separatist church.
Bartholomew, who visited Kiev last summer, has not given a clear response.
Kirill is to visit a number of Ukrainian cities during a prolonged visit that his office says is devoted strictly to pilgrimage. But observers note that his trips to such strongholds of pro-Russian support as the eastern coal-mining city of Donetsk and the port of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula have clear political undertones.
Before Kirill led the prayers, a group of nationalist activists shouting “Moscow priest get out!” briefly scuffled with his supporters near the St. Volodymyr Hill. The scuffle was broken up by police.
Related News
Vatican: Papal trip to Moscow a possibility due to improved relations with Russian OrthodoxSeptember 17th, 2009 Vatican sees end to tensions with Russian OrthodoxVATICAN CITY — Relations with the Russian Orthodox church have vastly improved, possibly paving the way for a papal visit to Moscow or a historic meeting between the pope and the Orthodox patriarch outside of Russia or the Vatican, a senior Vatican cardinal said Thursday. Cardinal Walter Kasper told Vatican Radio "we have overcome all the tensions in recent years."
He spoke after meeting with Archbishop Hilarion, head of external relations for the Moscow patriarch's office.
Bulgaria's Orthodox Church protests planned concert by "disrespectful" MadonnaAugust 25th, 2009 Bulgaria's church deplores Madonna concertSOFIA, Bulgaria — Orthodox Church officials are urging Bulgarians to keep away from a planned Madonna concert this weekend, accusing the pop singer of showing disrespect to Christianity. The powerful Church of Bulgaria has issued a statement expressing "disapproval and disagreement" with Saturday's event, and says the U.S.
Ukraine's president rejects Russian criticism, says Russia to blame for strained tiesAugust 13th, 2009 Ukrainian president rejects Russian criticismKIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Thursday rejected sharp criticism from his Russian counterpart, saying the Kremlin is to blame for a downturn in bilateral ties. Yushchenko was responding to an open letter from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who has accused him of conducting a hostile policy toward Russia.
Russian president accuses Ukraine of endangering European gas supplies, delays new ambassadorAugust 12th, 2009 Russian leader says Ukraine endangering gas supplyMOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has accused Ukraine of endangering European gas supplies, and threatened to delay sending a new Russian ambassador until relations with its neighbor improve. In a letter to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko released Tuesday by the Kremlin, Medvedev also criticizes Yushchenko's push to make Ukraine a NATO member and his support for an Orthodox church outside Moscow's control.
Russian Orthodox Patriarch visits Ukraine in power show, calls for 'church unity'July 27th, 2009 Russian Patriarch calls for unity with UkraineKIEV, Ukraine — The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church led solemn prayers in Kiev on Monday, the first day of 10-day visit aimed at reasserting Moscow's dominance over church leaders in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill led the service on the sacred St.
Russian Orthodox Patriarch visits Ukraine, calls for 'church unity'July 27th, 2009 Russian Patriarch calls for Ukraine church unityKIEV, Ukraine — The patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church has arrived in Kiev for a 10-day visit aimed at reasserting Moscow's dominance over the church's leaders in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill said Monday he would pray for the two nations' "unbreakable spiritual and church unity." The statement was a reference to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's efforts to establish an independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
Russia's Medvedev announces plans for religion classes, with ethics available as alternativeJuly 21st, 2009 Russian pupils to have choice of religion, ethicsBARVIKHA, Russia — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced a pilot project Tuesday that will require schoolchildren to take classes in religion or secular ethics. The proposal is part of a Kremlin effort to teach young Russians morals in the wake of a turbulent period of uncertainty following the collapse of the officially atheist Soviet Union.
Leningrad station to be renamed after Russia's last TsarJuly 10th, 2009 MOSCOW - Eighteen years after St Petersburg shed its Soviet-era name of Leningrad, the Leningrad railway station in Moscow is to be renamed. According to The Scotsman, the Russian state railway company said yesterday that the station would be called Nikolayev Station in honor of Russia's last Tsar Nicholas I, who initiated its 19th-century construction.
Greek, Russian Orthodox patriarchs lead prayers together in Turkey in show of unityJuly 5th, 2009 Greek, Russian Orthodox leaders show unityISTANBUL, Turkey — The spiritual leaders of the Orthodox Christian churches in Istanbul and Russia led Sunday prayers together in a show of unity after years of jostling for influence. Istanbul Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said the two churches must overcome differences, though he stressed his church's status as "first among equals" with the historic role of coordinating between the various Orthodox branches, of which Russia's is the largest.
Ukraine seeks $4 billion loan from European banks to pay for Russian gas importsJune 16th, 2009 Ukraine seeks $4B gas loan from EuropeKIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine is seeking a $4 billion loan from European banks to pay for natural gas imports from Russia this year, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Tuesday. Speaking in Luxembourg after a meeting with European Union officials, Tymoshenko said the loan would guarantee the transit of Russian gas supplies to European consumers through Ukraine, according to her Web site.
Orthodox Church to put up four candidates in KeralaMarch 22nd, 2009 KOTTAYAM - Irked at the Congress party for ignoring its candidate request, the Orthodox Church in Kerala has decided to put up four candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. The 2.5 million-strong Kottayam headquartered church approached the Congress party with a request to put up a senior Indian Administrative Service officer at the newly constituted Pathanamthitta seat, where the church has a strong presence.
Ukraine starts receiving Russian gas for transit to EuropeJanuary 19th, 2009 MOSCOW - Ukraine's gas system started receiving Russian gas for transit to Europe Tuesday, a spokesman of Russian energy giant Gazprom said. Following Sunday's talks between the two countries' premiers, Gazprom and Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz Monday signed a contract on Russian gas supplies to Ukraine for 2009-19.
Gas stolen in Ukrainian transportation system: Russian firmJanuary 13th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russian gas has been stolen after being pumped into Ukraine's gas transportation system, an official spokesman for Russian energy giant Gazprom has said. Under Monday's deal with the European Union (EU) and Ukraine, Gazprom Tuesday resumed pumping gas into Ukraine for transit to Europe.
Ukraine denies block, says Russian gas is flowingJanuary 12th, 2009 KIEV - Energy officials in Kiev Tuesday said Russian natural gas was slowly moving into Ukraine's pipeline system, rejecting allegations from Moscow that Ukraine was blocking the flow. 'Gas has started to come in (to Ukraine's pipeline system from Russia),' an official from the Ukrainian natural gas monopoly Naftogaz Ukrainy said.
Ukraine illegally tapped Europe-bound Russian gas: GazpromJanuary 3rd, 2009 MOSCOW - Ukraine illegally tapped 50 million cubic metres of Russian natural gas bound for European consumers, a spokesman for Russian energy giant Gazprom said Sunday. 'Over the past 24 hours (since Saturday), we fed 295 million cubic metres of gas into the Ukrainian gas transportation system that was more than requested by European consumers, but we had only 270 million on the output (data),' Sergei Kupriyanov said.
Loading ...