Filaret: In unity is our strength

Photo: EPA

Autocephaly, which Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will provide the Orthodox Church in Ukraine will make the Ukrainian Church independent of all ecclesiastical centres. About this 23 November in Parliament said the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) Filaret, reports “UKRINFORM”.

“We now expect from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s recognition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Autocephalous Church, that is independent not only from Moscow but also from Constantinople itself. We are independent from all the centers and get the Tomos that leads literally shaking in Moscow. Because if the Ukrainian Church will be recognized as Autocephalous, then this means that a Moscow to Ukraine will not be the spirit of Moscow, will rule the Ukrainians”, – he said.

Filaret believes that a United Ukrainian Church in Ukraine will be.

“In unity is our strength, and cause of all the troubles that Ukrainian people endured for a thousand years of history, is our disunity”, he said.

The Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 11 October adopted a number of decisions concerning the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In particular, the decision of the Patriarchate of Constantinople from 1686 on the transfer of the Ukrainian Church in the administration of the Moscow Patriarchate abolished; the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchy Philaret were taken imposed by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) is anathema; to him and to the Primate of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Makarios returned to canonical status.

The official Tomos of autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will present the chosen at the unity Cathedral of the Primate of a local Church. It is expected that the Cathedral will be held in December.

October 15, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church severed Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, November 13, the same decision was taken by the Council of bishops of the UOC-MP.

On November 23, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said that the decision on the Tomos for the local Church in Ukraine will be taken at a meeting of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on November 27-29.