Patriarch Kirill wishes Poroshenko reconciliation of Ukrainian people

May – June 2014

Moscow, May 27, Interfax – Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia said he congratulated Petr Poroshenko with being elected Ukrainian president.

“Together with many people I hope that powers and authority, which come into your hands today, will serve for the benefit of Ukraine’s east, west, north and south. I hope that bloodshed will stop forever, that no one will be oppressed or humiliated and that the life, worldview and cultural choice of each group of the country’s population will be implemented,” the patriarchal press office quoted Patriarch Kirill as saying in his telegram to Poroshenko on Tuesday.

It is also hoped that church life in Ukraine will proceed “without any state or political interference and the decision necessary for stabilizing, improving and developing this life will be made freely, with no confinement and in the spirit of faithfulness to the canonic order,” the patriarch said.

“You have a difficult and important task – to find ways to reconcile conflict parties and to make everything possible in order to restore civil peace and accord. I am convinced that amid the current situation it is necessary to maintain open dialogue with the people and public leaders and to listen to the opinion of all citizens of the country,” the document said.

The flame of enmity emerged in Kiev six months ago “and now it is raving in the southeast of the country with no mercy for women, children and the elderly,” Patriarch Kirill said.

“Today Ukraine needs peace, stability, truth and justice most of all. And only a person, who knows well, loves and understands his own people, strongly defends moral values preserved by him, sees support in people’s life in strong family and takes wisdom from truly spiritual sources, can become a guarantor of building a decent life,” the telegram said.

The patriarch said that problems and aspirations of all people, who are the congregation of the Russian Orthodox Church regardless of their residence, were equally close to him and that he prayed diligently “that hopes of Ukraine’s Orthodox people are [met].”

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