ONE NATION - ONE CHURCH

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko informed the NSDC members of the course of negotiations with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the initiative to grant the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. “You see that this initiative has been actively supported in the world - our Ukrainian Diaspora, political figures, church hierarchs supported these initiative,” President Petro Poroshenko emphasized. He thanked every member of the parliament who had voted to support the Appeal of the President to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Mr Poroshenko emphasized that the given Appeal was in no way an interference of the authorities and the state in the affairs of the church: "I would like to emphasize again that this is by no means an interference of the state in the church affairs. I emphasize again that I am a strong opponent of state interference in church affairs". "Especially when this state is foreign. Especially when it is an aggressor. Especially when there is the announcement of the Ukrainian territory a canonical territory of the church of another state. This is an encroachment on our territorial integrity," the President emphasized. The Head of State expressed hope for a positive decision on granting the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church. "Ukrainians have won their right to the Autocephalous Church. And today, we hope that His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will make efforts and after the ongoing consultations they will be approved by the Synod, and this process will be completed by granting the Tomos to Ukraine," he said. Petro Poroshenko called on all Ukrainians: "Fight and pray. Pray that this will happen as soon as possible". http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/iniciativa-shodo-nadannya-tomosu-pro-avtokefaliyu-pravoslavn-47238

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (AAP) Source: Presidential Press Service