Moscow Patriarch Kirill Hopes Synod Meeting To Promote Peace In Ukraine

The patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church said Saturday he hoped that the synod meeting on Monday would promote peace after a controversial decision by the Istanbul-based ecumenical patriarch to proceed with granting independence to the Ukrainian church.

MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th October, 2018) The patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church said Saturday he hoped that the synod meeting on Monday would promote peace after a controversial decision by the Istanbul-based ecumenical patriarch to proceed with granting independence to the Ukrainian church.

"I urge all of you to pray that the decisions the synod will make [on October 15] will help bring peace to the perturbed Ukrainian community and shield our Church from possible attacks and discrimination," Patriarch Kirill said ahead of the all-night vigil at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk.

On Thursday, the Synod of the Constantinople Patriarchate announced that it would proceed to grant independence to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, which is currently split into three major churches the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of Moscow Patriarchate, the non-canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kiev Patriarchate (UOC-KP), created after the Soviet collapse, and the so-called Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.

The Istanbul-based synod also lifted anathema from the heads of the two non-canonical churches that had been excommunicated by the Russian Orthodox Church for their schism. The Constantinople Patriarchate also revoked its decision to grant Moscow Patriarchate the right to ordain the Metropolitan of Kiev, which dates back to 1686.

The synod's decision has been welcomed by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who looks to establish a single independent church in the country.

The Russian Orthodox Church called the synod's decision "legalization of schism," saying it would have catastrophic consequences for millions of Christians in Ukraine and abroad. The Moscow-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church described the synod's decision as a hostile act that interfered with its affairs, and threatened the Constantinople patriarch with anathema.