Ukrainian Orthodox Churches to Resume Dialogue for Unity

23/9/2011

Kiev: It has been reported that the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches have decided to Resume Dialogue to overcome Schism. Recently a joint statement made by Patriarch Filaret (Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate) and Metropolitan Medofy Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church says that both Churches have decided to resume the dialogue for a unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Recently the Russian Orthodox Church organized an Inter-Council Presence’s commission for opposing and overcoming church schisms in Kiev. Read More here:

CLICK HERE TO READ OCP ARTICLE TILTED “A Humble Call for Unity of Orthodoxy in Ukraine ”

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE STATEMENT

USING GOOGLE TRANSLATE SERVICE

September 14, 2011, at the Kiev Patriarchate UOC-KP meeting of the Primates of the Kiev Patriarchate, Patriarch Filaret and Ukrainian Orthodox Church Archbishop Methodius. The meeting was attended by President of Ukraine (2005-2010) said. The meeting was made a joint statement the two heads.

Joint Statement of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to dialogue with Ukraine in order to create a unified national church

September 14, 2011, with our joint initiative with the support of the President of Ukraine (2005-2010) Viktor Yushchenko held our meeting to discuss how to overcome the division of Ukrainian Orthodoxy. We are aware that this path is – complex. But at the same time, and we ourselves, and bishops, clergy and faithful of our Churches have always led to understand and recognize the harmfulness of the existing separation and showed a desire to find a way to overcome it. The Ukrainian society is divided – we see a debate between politicians, attempts to sow discord on the basis of language, nationality, the region of residence. Unfortunately, one reason for the deepening social division is also a lack of unity of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and due to this feud. Our desire – to make the unity of Ukrainian society that we can – namely, to overcome the separation of the church. In the way of unity have repeatedly faced both external and internal factors, objective and subjective. During the dialogue we have come to a common conclusion: the past misunderstandings and disagreements should not we close the path to dialogue, reconciliation and, ultimately, to achieve Christian unity. Our meeting was fruitful and mutually beneficial. In the end, it between us agreed to begin steps to restore dialogue myizh Kiev Patriarchate and Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church to restore the unity of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. We urge the bishops, clergy and faithful of the Churches led us, and the Ukrainian public contributes to our common goal – the final formation of Ukraine in a local church. We hope that with God’s help and together we can achieve this.

We call on all God’s blessings! Filaret, Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate, Methodius, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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