The UOC-MP said that the Prime Minister of Ukraine at a meeting with Patriarch Ilia II "lobbied for the interests of the OCU"
The words of Viktor (Kotsaba) were distributed by the official website of the UOC MP.
The UOC-MP was outraged by the words of OleksandrTkachenko that the meeting of Denys Shmyhal with Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia II "is very important for the recognition of the OCU by one of the oldest Orthodox churches in the world-the Georgian one."
"The minister transparently hinted that the high representative of the Ukrainian authorities in a conversation with the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church lobbied for the interests of one denomination in Ukraine – the OCU. I am convinced that our officials are well aware that according to the Constitution of Ukraine, the Church in Ukraine is separated from the state. This means that the Ukrainian authorities should not interfere in church affairs, no matter how important they may seem to them," Viktor (Kotsaba) said.
As RISU has reported, during a working visit to Georgia, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal met with Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia II.
During the conversation, Denys Shmygal stressed that the national histories of Georgia and Ukraine, in particular the ways of development of Orthodox churches, are quite similar. In addition, Ukraine and Georgia are following the path of European integration together. The Prime Minister also noted the importance of the spiritual and religious component for the formation and further development of both states. "There is no doubt that we should work together in this area," Denys Shmyhal stressed. Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia II noted that the Georgian Orthodox Church prays for a happy fate for both countries.
