Posted by George Patsourakos
on 7/31/2009, 6:35 pm
While visiting Kiev, Ukraine this week, Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, urged Ukraine to reunite with the Moscow patriarchate, thus reaffirming his rejection of allowing Ukraine to have an independent Orthodox Church.
In a situation that can be compared to Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son, Patriarch Kirill called upon adherents of the breakaway Ukrainian Church to "return to the father's house and unite with us."
Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko is leading a campaign to win recognition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kiev Patriarchate, which broke away from the Moscow Patriarchate in 1991, when the Soviet Union was dissolved, resulting in Ukraine becoming an independent nation.
Yushchenko has sought backing from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, spiritual leader of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians, but has not received a clear response.
Patriarch Philaret, leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, said Ukraine deserves to have its own self-governing Orthodox Church. He added, "Everything that is built on non-truth will sooner or later be destroyed, because God only has so much patience."
For more information on this subject, log onto the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia website.
Responses:
