It is deeply regrettable that Ukraine has become a bone of contention between Russia and the Unites States of America, said Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, commenting on the issue at “The Church and the World” TV programme.
The archpastor pointed out that Ukraine was the nearest neighbor of Russia, that Ukrainians and Russians were fraternal peoples and that there used to be a time when they were one nation bound by one language and culture. That is why we are alarmed at the “anti-Russian propaganda being carried on in Ukraine largely from abroad and from overseas too.”
Metropolitan Hilarion added that giving cause to particular concern of the Russian Orthodox Church is the situation in which millions of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians find themselves due to propaganda warfare against Russia and US actions in Ukraine. “The schism supported by the Patriarch of Constantinople is inflicting a deep wound on Ukrainian people as a whole and on the Orthodox Christian population in particular. In the vision of the church, this schism cannot be justified, and actions taken for its legitimation are totally unlawful.”
“We pray for overcoming of division and for Ukrainian Orthodox Christians to reunite in the fold of the one canonical Church in Ukraine headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry,” underscored Metropolitan Hilarion.
Also, he emphasized the necessity to do anything possible to prevent the escalation of tension between countries and to adjust differences within Ukraine through peaceful means.
DECR Communication Service/Patriarchia.ru