• Home page
  • News
  • Poroshenko briefs on the progress of negotiations with Bartholomew I regarding the tomos of autocephaly...

Poroshenko briefs on the progress of negotiations with Bartholomew I regarding the tomos of autocephaly

04.05.2018, 09:11
Petro Poroshenko called on all Ukrainians: “Fight and pray. Pray so that it may happen as soon as possible.”

President Petro Poroshenko briefed members of the National Security and Defense Council on the progress of negotiations with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on the bestowal of the Tomos on autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It was reported by the President’s official website.

 

“You see that these initiatives have found very active worldwide support - our Ukrainian diaspora, politicians, church hierarchs have supported this initiative,” the Head of State says. He thanked every MP who voted in support of the President's Appeal to His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

 

Petro Poroshenko emphasizes that this Appeal is in no way an interference of the authorities and the state in the affairs of the Church: “I would like to reiterate that this is by no means an interference of the state in church affairs. I reiterate that I am a categorical opponent of state interference in church affairs.”

 

“Especially when this state is foreign. Especially when it is an aggressor country. Especially when the Ukrainian territory was announced the canonical territory of the church of another country. This is an encroachment on our territorial integrity,” the President emphasized.

 

The head of state expressed hope for a positive decision on the bestowal of the Tomas on autocephaly on the Ukrainian Church.

 

“Ukrainians have won their right to the Local Autocephalous Church. And today we strongly hope that His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch will make efforts and after the ongoing consultations they will be approved by the Synod, and this process will be completed by the provision of the Tomos to Ukraine,” he said.

 

Petro Poroshenko called on all Ukrainians: “Fight and pray. Pray so that it may happen as soon as possible.”