At a meeting in Istanbul, Bartholomew I of Constantinople assured Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov of his readiness to assist in the unification of Orthodox churches in Ukraine, UNIAN reports.
"We pray for peace and stability in Ukraine and for the reunification of the Orthodox Churches. We are ready to give any assistance to reach that unification," said Patriarch Bartholomew.
Azarov noted in his turn that the government cannot be indifferent to the fact that Orthodoxy in Ukraine is divided into three churches. He stressed that the solution to the question of the unification is within the capacity of the churches themselves.
"In our opinion, it is the business of the church itself to find the way to unity," noted the prime minister.
He stressed that the government will promote the resolution of interchurch problems.
"I would like to assure you that the Ukrainian government will continue to promote the harmonization of church-state relations," added Azarov.
The Ukrainian prime minister arrived in Turkey last Sunday to participate in the "Summit of Leaders of Changes."