RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


Head of Ukrainian church blames Patriarch Kirill for Russian aggression

EPIFANY TELLS HOW PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW WAS INVOLVED IN INVASION OF UKRAINE

Religiina Pravda, 3 May 2021

 

The primate of the PTsU [Orthodox Church of Ukraine] thinks that RPTs [Russian Orthodox Church] Patriarch Kirill was involved in the seizure of Ukrainian territory. The head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifany, expressed this opinion on the program "Rendezvous with Yanina Sokolova" on Channel 5. He noted that Patriarch Kirill exerted an influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

"If we analyze all of Patriarch Kirill's trips to Ukraine, then we will see that he created this idea of the 'Russian World,' and he influenced Putin," the head of the PTsU said.

 

According to Epifany, Kirill created the illusion that Ukrainians supposedly are striving to be one people with the Russians. "But for some reason our" loving brothers "always tried to smother us in their embraces," he said.

 

The primate also noted that the creation of the Ukrainian local Orthodox church back at the very start of the independence of our country would have permitted the avoidance of the occupation of Crimea by Russia and the war in the Donbass.

 

"Ukraine did not promote this at the start of the autocephalous movement. Ukrainians also did not fully understand that it is necessary to have their own independent local Ukrainian Orthodox church. If we had had an independent church from the start (of Ukrainian independence—ed. note), then I am sure that there would not have been an occupation of Crimea and war in the east of Ukraine," Epifany explained. (tr. by PDS, posted 3 May 2021)


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