AFTER AUTOCEPHALY IN UKRAINE THERE WILL BE NO MOSCOW SPIRIT—FILARET
Union of Orthodox Journalists, 23 November 2018
Speaking in the Verkhovna Rada, Filaret declared that autocephaly in Ukraine will be independent from both Moscow and Constantinople.
With the recognition of autocephaly in Ukraine, there will be no Moscow spirit, the head of the UPTsKP, Filaret, declared, speaking in the Verkhovna Rada on the day of memory of the victims of the Golodomar of 1932-1933. This was reported by Ukrainskaia Pravda.
Filaret reported that in the process of Ukrainians' struggle for establishing their own state, a great role is being played by the Kiev patriarchate and he added that now Ukrainian Orthodoxy is awaiting the recognition of autocephaly.
"The idea gives Moscow the shivers because if the Ukrainian church is recognized as autocephalous, then this will signify that Moscow will not be in Ukraine and there will be no Moscow spirit," Filaret declared from the platform.
The leader of the UPTsKP also reported that an autocephalous church in Ukraine will be independent "not only from Moscow but also from Constantinople itself."
Earlier on the web there appeared the text of a letter by Filaret Denisenko in which he undertakes to withdraw his candidacy in the election of the head of the local church in Ukraine, which is supposed to happen at the "unification council." A spokesman for the UPTsKP, Evstraty Zoria, reported that participants in the council may suggest for Filaret to become a candidate. Filaret himself did not confirm that he aspires any longer to the leadership of a united Orthodox church. (tr. by PDS, posted 24 November 2018)
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