Patriarch Filaret: Russia Hinders Establishment of One National Orthodox Church in Ukraine

KYIV – At a press conference on April 8, 2010, Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) expressed his opinion that Russia hinders the establishment of one national Orthodox Church in Ukraine, reports the press service of the UOC-KP.

“What prevents the establishment of one national Orthodox Church in Ukraine? Moscow,” said the patriarch. “If the Russian Church was not so closely connected to the state, it would not fulfill its will and would not hinder the church in Ukraine to unite and be independent,” added the hierarch.

“Russia, as you know, wishes to see Ukraine within a new empire, a new state headed by Moscow,” added the patriarch. He believes that Russia can bring Ukraine into such a state only through the influence of the church.