Ukraine Priests To Hold Historic 'unification' Synod

Ukrainian priests will hold a historic synod on Saturday to work towards founding an independent church, in what Kiev authorities hope will be a further step out of Russia's orbit.

Kiev, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2018 ) :Ukrainian priests will hold a historic synod on Saturday to work towards founding an independent church, in what Kiev authorities hope will be a further step out of Russia's orbit.

Ties between the ex-Soviet neighbours have broken down since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 following a pro-Western uprising in Kiev, and this year those tensions spilt into the religious arena.

The synod will seek to realise a landmark decision by Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to recognise Ukraine's independence from the Russian Orthodox Church.

The ruling in October sparked fury in Moscow, which has overseen the Ukrainian branch of Orthodoxy for the last 332 years, and saw the Russian Orthodox Church cut all ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The meeting will take place in Kiev's Saint Sophia's Cathedral and aims to unite various branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine into a single independent body.

But Ukraine's Moscow-loyal church has said it will not send any representatives to the synod.

That leaves the meeting between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the KievPatriarchate, the country's largest branch by number of believers, and the smaller UkrainianAutocephalous Orthodox Church.