Ukrainian Church accuses Russia of interfering in its 'church affairs'
The sacred synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC KP) has accused Russia of attempting to interfere in its process of acquiring autocephaly – recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
“We are aware of numerous facts of political and state interference by Russia and the pro-Kremlin political forces in Ukraine with the aim of obstructing the recognition process,” says a post published on the UOC KP website.
According to the Ukrainian church, Moscow has been putting pressure on the Constantinople Patriarchate and other local orthodox churches “through diplomatic and other channels”.
A cited example is the collection of signatures against the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church, which the UOC KP claims was organized by “pro-Kremlin political structures”. For example, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, which is part of the Russian Orthodox Church, has used its influence to distribute lists of signatures in the parishes in Ukraine.
The UOC KP has protested against “Russia’s interference in church affairs” in this regard.
The Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople has already considered Ukraine’s application to be granted autocephaly, and intends to collaborate with other orthodox churches in order to decide the matter.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko proposed that the UOC KP be conferred the powers of an independent church, and he was supported by the Verkhovna Rada.
The UOC KP said that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is responsible for overall orthodox unity and “will not do anything which would hamper this unity”.