Contents tagged with Orthodox Church
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Orthodox Church of Ukraine fears for property and priests in Donetsk
The Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine or OCU is concerned about the total prohibition of OCU community activities and the deportation of priests from the territory of the Donetsk region that is not controlled by Ukraine.
“From March 1, 2019, there will be a threat of total prohibition of activities of the communities and clergy of our Church, full confiscation of communities' property and deportation from the territory controlled by …
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Ukrainian authorities investigate disappearance of icons from Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
Ukrainian law enforcement authorities are investigating the disappearance of icons from the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra which is being rented by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP), Interfax-Ukraine reports, citing Ukrainian Culture Minister Yevhen Nyshchuk.
“A full inventory has already been partially done. We are now being sent full reports. There are some losses from the icons in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra,” the Minister noted. “On the other hand, it shouldn’t be said …
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President Poroshenko names Patriarch Filaret Hero of Ukraine
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has decided to award Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) the title “Hero of Ukraine”, he announced on his official Facebook page.
“No level has yet been invented which could measure the contribution of Patriarch Filaret to the fight for our own local church. He has been and remains the spiritual leader of the Ukrainian church, the spiritual leader of the Ukrainian people. That is why I have decided to grant him the title …
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Poroshenko discusses with Erdogan release of Ukrainian political prisoners from Russian prisons
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul, , Poroshenko’s website reports.
"Special attention was paid to the liberation of illegally imprisoned Ukrainian citizens from Russian prisons and ensuring the rights of Ukrainians, including the Crimean Tatars in the territory of the Crimea under Russian occupation,” the statement reads.
During the meeting, leaders of both countries also discussed the prospects of bilateral agreement on the free …
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Patriarch Bartholomew: Ukrainian nation waited seven centuries for autocephaly
After signing the Tomos of Autocephaly (independence) for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said in his address to Metropolitan Epiphany that the Ukrainian nation has been awaiting this day for seven centuries.
“Today, light and joy, peace and unity will fill the holy church of Ukraine, which in your hands is receiving a Tomos of its official recognition and declaration as an autocephalous church, which brings it to the level of the 14 sister-churches that …
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Filaret: Ukrainian President Poroshenko convinced Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to grant Ukrainian Church autocephaly
At the “Return to the faith of the fathers” forum in Lviv, Kyiv Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko) explained how President Petro Poroshenko played an important role in obtaining autocephaly (independence) for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
“Our enemy knows well that, if there is no firm spiritual foundation, if we build our country on the sand, then this house will not stand long. And we must build on a firm foundation. And that is why, at the very start, Moscow, when it was unable to break me, …
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Ukraine establishes autocephalous orthodox church
On Saturday, December 15, the Unifying Assembly of Ukrainian Orthodox Confessions, under the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, ruled to establish an autocephalous (independent) local Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). The assembly also confirmed the church charter, and elected Metropolitan Epiphany, patriarchal vicar of the former Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC KP), as primate of the new church. Ukrainian religious scholars and political experts believe that this …
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Kyiv expects unifying church assembly before year end
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC KP) expects that a united assembly of the orthodox churches will be held before the end of the year. At the assembly, it will announce the establishment of a new church, with a Tomos of Autocephaly (independence) from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, UOC KP Archbishop Yevstratiy told RBC.
“We hope that all the procedures will be completed this year, and that the Tomos, as a physical official document, will be in Kyiv …
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US Secretary of State supports the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s pursuit of autocephaly
The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that Washington supports “Ukrainians’ rights to pray the way they want to” and called on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and government officials to actively promote these values of “tolerance, restraint, and understanding,” according to his statement published on the State Department’s website on October 19.
"The United States reiterates its strong support for religious freedom and the freedom of members of religious groups, including Ukraine’s …
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister proposes reburying Stepan Bandera in Ukraine
A Pantheon of heroes should be made in Ukraine and the ashes of the OUN leader Stepan Bandera reburied there, stated the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pavlo Klimkin after the meeting of the Ukrainian government.
“I believe that we need this from a respect standpoint to our heroes and with the point of view that it will cultivate feeling and understating of one’s own history. This will require the necessary decisions, but I do not see any problems in arranging a Pantheon,” Klimkin said. …