Patriarch Filaret: we are prepared for dialog to form single Ukraine-based church
Addressing journalists in Lviv Sept. 12, the leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv patriarchate), Filaret, said more and more believers are coming to UOC (KP) churches for prayers, our correspondent reports.
“I have long predicted that the God will create conditions for the unification of UOC(KP), UOC (Moscow patriarchate, Autocephalous Church into a single Ukraine-based church. The God has shown which church is standing by its people and which church is not. That is why Ukrainians are more and more siding with their own Ukrainian church, UOC (KP),” Filaret said.
This church has proved its allegiance with Ukrainians during the Maidan revolution in winter and during the war in Donbas, the UOC (KP) leader said.
“The new leader of the UOC (MP) has said he is for the dialog with UOC(KP). We are also prepared for the dialog, but for the sake of forming our own Ukrainian independent church, not for the sake of a dialog,” Archbishop Filaret said.
The unification of Ukraine orthodox churches is possible only if the UOC(MP) breaks away from Moscow, Filaret said.