Poroshenko To Attend Orthodox Churches' Unification Council In Kiev On Saturday - Reports

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will take part in the council to create a "united local church" on Saturday, local media reported Wednesday, citing a source in the Ukrainian government.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th December, 2018) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will take part in the council to create a "united local church" on Saturday, local media reported Wednesday, citing a source in the Ukrainian government.

According to the LIGA.net internet portal, Poroshenko will address the clergy and people, who will gather near Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev.

On December 5, Poroshenko announced that the "unifying Synod," which should declare the establishment of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine, approve its composition and elect its head, would convene in the Ukrainian capital in mid-December.

Kiev authorities are working to establish a single local autocephalous church in the country based on non-canonical Ukrainian orthodox churches. However, autocephaly can only be given to a primate of a unified Ukrainian church, which has to be chosen by representatives of all orthodox churches in the country during the council, in which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate refuses to participate.

In October, the Synod of the Constantinople Patriarchate announced that it would proceed with granting independence to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

The Russian Orthodox Church, in turn, has gone on to sever diplomatic ties with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have also decided to suspend services with the hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, expressing their hope that "the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople will change its decision."