Verkhovna Rada Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov to Clerics: Wisdom of God's Word Will help Us Revive Ukraine

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov thanked the heads of denominations for the fact that the churches and religious organizations were with people in the most difficult times: “for the word of God that was heard on the Maidan, and for the prayers with people, even when bullets were flying.”

He said this during a meeting with members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations on February 25 in the conference hall of the parliament, the Institute for Religious Freedom reports.

During the meeting, Turchynov proposed the Council of Churches to hold regular meetings in order “to discuss together the most important questions concerning the life of our country.”

 
“It is important now for our people to understand that corruption and those atrocities committed on the Maidan, the blood that spilled there, is, first of all, a consequence of the lack of spirituality. This lack of spirituality generates tragedy. And to revive spirituality, to revive faith, is to revive Ukraine,” said the head of the Ukrainian parliament.

According to Turchynov, the new leadership has to deal the economy, which is in dire shape, so for the revival of Ukraine and for it to function normally, the wisdom that is in the Word of God is needed.

The present religious leaders gave their assessment of the latest developments in Ukraine and addressed a number of pressing issues.

The acting president of Ukraine urged the heads of the churches and religious organizations to ensure that the priests, preachers, and pastors carried the Word of God to the people and called on them to unite and to show love to their neighbors and dignity to those who have different political views, “so that all together we can revive Ukraine.”