Patriarch Filaret: “The Local Orthodox Church will exist in Ukraine, we will pursue this goal together with the state”

Patriarch Filaret of Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate) said that Ukraine would establish the local Orthodox Church, as the state authorities want it as well.

Patriarch Filaret of Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate) said that Ukraine would establish the local Orthodox Church, as the state authorities want it as well.

He said this during a solemn prayer service at St. Volodymyr's Hill on the occasion of the anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, depo.ua reports.

“The Local Orthodox Church will exist in Ukraine, we will pursue this objective together with the state. The President delivered a speech today and clearly said that Ukraine needed the unified Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church that would be independent from anyone. If the Church is dependent on Moscow, Ukraine will cease to exist as a state. But we know that the Ukrainian people want a local church,” the head of the UOC (KP) states.

According to the report, the visitor access to the territory of St. Volodymyr's Hill was open throughout the event. Law enforcement officers were hardly noticeable at the place of prayer.