Patriarch Filaret gives his blessing to support the political force of Viktor Yushchenko. So reported the senior priest of the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP).
“You have gathered to participate in this forum, the Union of patriotic forces. You were brought here by the love for Ukraine, the Ukrainian nation, Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian language and, therefore, His Beatitude, Patriarch Filaret gives his blessing for your good undertakings in order for them to serve to the glory of our Ukrainian Orthodox Church, to the glory of our Ukrainian nation, to the glory of our thousand year old Ukrainian state,” said the priest.
According to Fr. Borys, Prince Volodymyr the Great built the Kyivan Rus on the basis of Christian principles and it became powerful thanks to the symbiosis of the state and Church. “We would like our politicians to achieve prosperity of our state by restoring to the Orthodox Church of its high status, restoring the spirituality, and then, God will bless our nation and there will be crops and scientific discoveries and Ukraine will be happy,” noted Fr. Borys.
The priest noted that Yushchenko did a lot for the development of the Ukrainian culture and, in particular, the development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. “Therefore, once gain I extend to You the blessing and support from Patriarch Filaret,” stressed the priest.