Kyivan Orthodox Oppose Patriarch Alexis’s Visit

11.10.2002, 15:34

“The visit of Patriarch Alexis II to Ukraine is not welcome, since it will lead to discord and hatred,” said Bishop Dymytrii of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) and rector of the church’s theological seminary in Kyiv. The bishop announced this at a press conference on 8 October 2002 and stated that this is the official position of the UOC-KP on the possible visit of the Russian Orthodox patriarch.

“The current political situation in Ukraine is so ‘calm’ that we only need to invite the Moscow patriarch to visit Ukraine and intensify the discord between Orthodox believers,” said Bishop Dymytrii. He also stressed that the head of the Russian Orthodox Church has repeatedly made hostile remarks about the idea of one national Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as about the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. “The hostile attitude of the Moscow patriarch means that we will give him the same hostile reception,” said Bishop Dymytrii.

Sources: www.religio.ru and Radio “Svoboda” (Liberty)