Ukraine creates new Orthodox church independent from Russia

12/15/18
A council of Orthodox bishops has created a new Ukrainian church, marking an historic split from Russia which its leaders see as vital to the country's security and independence. The announcement on Saturday came after Ukrainian priests held a synod in capital Kiev's 11th-century Saint Sophia Cathedral to establish an Orthodox church independent from Moscow. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that 39-year-old Metropolitan Epifaniy of the Kiev Patriarchate church is the head of the new church. His secular name is Sergiy Dumenko. "This day will go down in history as a sacred day ... the day of the final independence from Russia," Poroshenko told thousands of supporters, who shouted "Glory! Glory! Glory!" "I would like to call on all our brothers, bishops and all believers to the newly created united Ukrainian Orthodox Church," Yepifaniy told the crowd outside the cathedral. "The doors of our church are open to all."

The newly formed community is now expected to receive independence from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Istanbul-based institution considered the so-called "first among equals" of leaders of the world's Orthodox Churches. Poroshenko said he would travel with Epifaniy to Istanbul in January to receive an official Tomos from the head of global Orthodoxy granting the new church independence.

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Rexedgar said:

Religion and politics? What can go wrong here?

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Rogue Valley said:

Just like Poland's high degree of devotion to the Catholic Church, Ukraine is also a highly religious country, albeit to the Eastern Orthodox Church.

In eastern Europe, nationhood and religion is inextricably intertwined, although not officially.

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Rogue Valley said:

Ukraine creates new Orthodox church independent from Russia


Metropolitan Epifaniy, Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.



This is huge news for Ukraine. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church will no longer be subservient to the Russian Orthodox Church as it has been for hundreds of years. The Eastern Orthodox Church Patriarch in Constantinople granted independence earlier this year and it will become official after the New Year. Rather than graciously accept the Patriarch's decision, the Russian Orthodox Church has split from Constantinople.

This is also a national security victory for Ukraine. Russian Orthodox clerics in Ukraine were repeating Kremlin propaganda in their sermons and vocally supporting the Muscovite proxies in eastern Ukraine etc.

Related: Russian Orthodox Church splits from Constantinople over Ukraine

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Rogue Valley said:

Ukraine creates new Orthodox church independent from Russia


Metropolitan Epifaniy, Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.



This is huge news for Ukraine. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church will no longer be subservient to the Russian Orthodox Church as it has been for hundreds of years. The Eastern Orthodox Church Patriarch in Constantinople granted independence earlier this year and it will become official after the New Year. Rather than graciously accept the Patriarch's decision, the Russian Orthodox Church has split from Constantinople.

This is also a national security victory for Ukraine. Russian Orthodox clerics in Ukraine were repeating Kremlin propaganda in their sermons and vocally supporting the Muscovite proxies in eastern Ukraine etc.

Related: Russian Orthodox Church splits from Constantinople over Ukraine

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Westphalian said:

Great to see how the US engineered this in a vain attempt to boost its favorite oligarch's abysmal popularity. The reality of course is that globalism hates religion. The illegitimate Ukrainian church can expect to die young.

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Rogue Valley said:

Lol. Conspiracy everywhere. You're hanging out with Fagan way too much. That's not good for critical thinking skills.



All the religious leaders of Ukraine congratulating the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine at Ternopil Zbarazh Castle yesterday 12/17/18.

Needless to say, the butthurt leader of the Russian Orthodox Church couldn't make it. He was busy hobnobbing with his master.....

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Press Statement
Robert Palladino
Deputy Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 17, 2018

The United States congratulates Metropolitan Epifaniy on his election as head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The establishment of the Church was a historic moment for Ukraine. The United States maintains unwavering support for Ukraine and respects the freedom to worship unhindered by outside interference. The right to religious freedom extends to all Ukrainians, including those choosing to join – or not to join – the new Orthodox Church.

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