Kyivan Patriarchate Spread Version of Reasons Why President Yanukovych Did Not Meet With Patriarch Kirill
The press-service of the Ukrainain Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate published an article of Serhii Sydorenko «Signal for the Patriarch». The author analyzes the reasons why the planned meeting between the head of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and President Yanukovych did not take place. It was expected that the meeting on 2 October on occasion of the consecration of the cathedral would be attended by Ukraine’s President Yanukovych who provides assistance to the monastery as well as his comrades from the Party of Regions.
According to the report of the press-service, Patriarch Kirill highly appreciates close relations with the state power as he is convinced that the favourable attitude of the Ukrainian authorities is the main condition of the preservation of the spiritual authority over Ukraine. Such a demonstration, according to the author of the article was to show the Ukrainian local authorities that “V. Yanukovych is for ROC,” to show the Ukrainian bishops and clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate who become less loyal to Moscow that “Kirill can approach the President directly,” and to show the Russian power circles that “Kirill can influence Ukraine.”
“In view of all these objectives, the absence of President Yanukovych from the events with the participation of the Moscow Patriarch should be an alarming signal for the latter,” reads the report.
Viktor Yanukovych did not come. According to the official version, he was substituted by the Minister of Fuel, Yurii Boiko. Therefore, Patriarch Kirill had to praise the Ukrainian President for charity without him being present and to assure that the patriarch prays for him.
“According to non-official sources, the Moscow side made efforts “to settle” the question of the presence of V. Yanukovych in Bancheny till the last moment. The visitors even agreed that the president would come not to the patriarchal service but to the opening of the asylum for disabled children, which was to include a “twenty minute” meeting. But in the end, the president did not come. Neither did Premier Mykola Azarov came to Bancheny, despite the fact that the mentioned sources report that his visit was considered as an option if the Head of the State refuses to communicate with the visitors from Moscow. Therefore, the highest Ukrainian officials at the patriarchal events was the Minister of Fuel, Mr. Boiko…The failed attempt to organize a meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Viktor Yanukovych in Bancheny is yet another obvious signal of the failure of the policy of the head of ROC with respect to Ukraine,” reads the article.
