Posted by George Patsourakos
on 8/6/2009, 1:28 am
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who just completed a 10-day visit to Ukraine, told reporters at Moscow Vnukovo-3 Airport that he will make every effort to ensure that Ukraine "always is a country that is close and friendly to Russia and is bound to it by family-like ties."
The Patriarch promised to "pray and work to prevent anti-Russian sentiments from ever taking the upper hand in Ukraine" and that he would "specially pray and work to prevent anti-Ukrainian sentiments from taking the upper hand in Russia."
Patriarch Kirill added he had "no secret agenda" when he began his visit to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church declared its independence from the Moscow Patriarchate in 1991, when the Soviet Union was dissolved, and Ukraine became an independent nation.
The Russian Patriarchate has refused to recognize the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Patriarchate since 1991, and this sensitive situation has sometimes resulted in friction between Russia and Ukraine.
One of the most powerful impressions his trip to Ukraine had given him was "kinship with people at the level of the heart," Patriarch Kirill said.
For more information on Patriarch Kirill's recent visit to Ukraine, log onto the Interfax-Religion website.
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