Ukraine's Orthodox Church detaches from Russia

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

 Ukrainian Orthodox priests are holding a historic synod in the Cathedral of St Sophia in Kiev in order to create a new National Church, which will have no ties with Russia.

Today's meeting follows a historic decision by the Patriarchate of Constantinople to separate the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Patriarchate of Moscow, which has overseen the Ukrainian branch for hundreds of years.

This decision angered the Russian Church, forcing it to cut off all ties with Constantinople.

Relations between Ukraine and Russia have been tense since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, following a pro-Western uprising in Kiev.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is expected to attend Saturday's meeting among representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Kiev and the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Moscow's loyal branch of this Church says it will not participate in the synod and denies that is a Kremlin's tool.

Before the meeting, Russian Patriarch Kirill asked Pope Francis, the United Nations, and religious and world leaders to protect the believers and clerics from "persecution".
Previous Post Next Post