The whole Orthodox world commends the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine - President in Dnipro
17.12.2018 16:56 | Press office of President
President Petro Poroshenko took part in the divine service in the Temple of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region. The liturgy was held by the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Epifaniy.
The President noted that the Lord had given Ukrainians their independent Orthodox Church. "The Lord helped us unite all the churches," Petro Poroshenko said, adding that even a year ago, few would have said that this great historical event could take place. The Head of State noted that without the will of the Lord this unity would not have happened.
"Of course, this is an ecclesiastical event, but this is also a state event. Because having our own independent church is comparable to the Act of State Independence," Petro Poroshenko said. He also noted that, as in December 1991, our state gained independence with the declaration of independence of Ukraine, now, with the proclamation of a single Ukrainian church, the construction of an independent state is being completed. "As there cannot be an independent state without an independent church," the President emphasized.
The President shared impressions of participating in the Unity Council on December 15, when the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was created: "This is a miracle. At first discussions were held, and then such joy reigned in the walls of St. Sophia, the millennial Sofia, that the Lord sent understanding, the hierarchs heard him and united".
At the same time, the President added that the formation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is only the beginning of the process of unification.
The President had a conversation with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who congratulated Ukraine on this event. "This is an event not only of Ukraine. This is an event not only of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This is an event of the entire Orthodox world. And the whole Orthodox world is glad," Petro Poroshenko noted.
The President also stressed that Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Epifaniy will receive the Tomos of Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine from the hands of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul on Christmas Eve. "I pray to the Lord, that on January 6, on our Christmas Eve, we would be in Constantinople at the great divine service. And this service has been long awaited by Ukraine for a thousand years," he said.
The Head of State also stressed the importance of preserving the unity of all Ukrainians and not allowing the fifth column to undermine our unity and support for the creation of a new church from within the country.