Moscow, December 15, Interfax – The so-called “unification assembly” held in Kiev on Saturday, which elected the leader of the new Ukrainian “church” independent from Moscow, is canonically nil, the Russian Orthodox Church said. “The non-canonical gathering of individuals, of whom some have and most don’t have the legitimate Episcopal consecration, under general leadership of…

MOSCOW, December 15. /TASS/. The canonical Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate will continue serving in Ukraine after a new church – the Autocephalous Orthodox Church – was established in that country, the Reverend Alexander Volkov, spokesman for Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, told TASS on Saturday. “The Russian Orthodox Church is praying in…

MOSCOW, December 15. /TASS/. After the creation of an Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine, schismatic religious groups will grow in number in that country, the Reverend Alexander Volkov, spokesman for Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, told TASS. “As for those rulings passed in the ancient St. Sophia’s in Kiev (the St. Sophia’s Cathedral)…

Kiev, December 15, Interfax – Epiphany Dumenko has been elected as the leader of the “local Orthodox Church and Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine,” Culture Minister Yevgeny Nishchuk announced from the stage on the square in front of the St. Sophia Cathedral on Saturday. His announcement was made as President Pyotr Poroshenko, Verkhovnaya Rada…

KIEV, December 15. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko has declared establishment of a new church in the country – the Autocephalous Orthodox Church. “I congratulate everyone on setting up the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church which has been just created at St. Sophia’s,” he said addressing the crowd in Sofiyskaya Square after the end of the…

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has arrived at Kyiv’s St. Sophia Square, where thousands of people gathered waiting for the decisions of the unification council of the Ukrainian Orthodox churches. Poroshenko spoke with people near the St. Sophia Cathedral, a UNIAN Information Agency correspondent has reported. “We’re standing and praying for the Ukrainian church to be…

MOSCOW, December 15 – The Ukrainian church will not be able to make independent decisions if granted autocephaly as it will be closely controlled by the Constantinople Patriarchate, Spokesman for Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia Rev. Alexander Volkov told Russia’s NTV channel on Saturday. “The noose is tightening and now the schismatics will…

In total, 192 delegates will take part in the unification council. A unification council will be held at Kyiv’s St. Sophia Cathedral on December 15, during which it is planned to announce the creation of a new, unified, independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine, approve its charter, and elect its leader in two rounds. The Ukrainian…

The unification council will be attended by such honored guests as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy. Some 192 delegates will take part in the unification council of the Orthodox churches in Kyiv on December 15: they will announce the creation of a new, unified, independent Orthodox…