Yuschenko to Call on Ukrainians to Form Single Orthodox Church in Ukraine
Interfax
10/28/2009
Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko will address Ukrainians soon asking them to support the formation of a single Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
He said this at a meeting of the all-Ukrainian council of churches and religious organizations in Kyiv on Wednesday.
"I intend to call on the Ukrainian people to support this process," the president said, adding that he will soon make such an address to the nation.
According to Yuschenko, the public should be aware of the dialog that has started among the church organizations about the creation of a single Orthodox Church in Ukraine, and the country's citizens should participate in this process.
The president asked the heads of other churches and religious organizations to support this process.
There are currently three branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate is the only one recognized by the world orthodox community. In addition, Ukraine has the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.