Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Filaret Seeks Single Orthodox Church in Ukraine; Kiev Patriarch Says Independent Church Inevitable

The Orthodox Church Info blog reports today (April 27, 2011) that Patriarch Filaret -- head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Kiev Patriarchate (UOC-KP) -- said in a TV interview on Easter that the unification of all Ukrainian Orthodox Churches into a single independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church is inevitable.

Patriarch Filaret said, "We are striving to create a single Orthodox Church in Ukraine. I am sure that there will be such a church in Ukraine. Sooner or later, we will unite and together we shall celebrate the risen Christ, but we shall celebrate Him in an independent church, in a local one, and not in the Russian Church."

The UOC-KP Patriarch added, "There will be the union under a single local Orthodox Church."

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is divided into three branches: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchate, and the Ukrainian Autocephalous (self-headed) Orthodox Church which is independent. In addition, there is the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church whose jurisdiction is under the Pope in Rome.

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