KIEV, November 13. /TASS/. The archbishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) are ready to meet with Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko only on church grounds, the statement of the UOC MP Bishop’s Council informs.
"The archbishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate confirm their readiness to meet with the president of Ukraine, but only on church grounds," the document stressed.
The statement informs that this decision was made after the discussion of current relations between the church and the state, as well as the public statements of Ukrainian officials, "considered to be against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church." "Taking into consideration the attitude and the opinion of the church’s people and clergy, and assuming that church matters should be discussed on church territory, we have decided to meet with the president - not in the Ukrainian House, but in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra." The hierarchs immediately communicated their decision to Poroshenko, the statement added. "However, he refused to hold the meeting."
The church representatives stated that the episcopate of the UOC MP met on Tuesday in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, holding an emergency session of the UOC MP Holy Synod, during which they decided to convene the UOC MP Bishop’s Council.
Earlier today, UOC MP Representative Bishop Kliment informed TASS that the church is ready for dialogue at any time. "We are always open for dialogue, always open to meet with all people in good will. However, the working day is already ending, that is, it is impossible to hold the meeting (with the Ukrainian president - TASS) today," he noted.
Previous reports stated that Poroshenko was set to meet with the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra on Tuesday afternoon. The aim and agenda of the meeting were unknown. On Tuesday morning, a session of the UOC MP Synod took place, where its representatives discussed the situation concerning the attempts to establish an autocephalous church in Ukraine.
On the outcomes of the Holy and Sacred Synod held on October 9-11, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has announced the decision to lift the anathema against leaders of two extracanonical churches in Ukraine - Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate and Makariy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The Ecumenical Patriarchate also announced that it is starting the process of granting autocephalous status to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
In response to this, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has made a decision to cease joint Eucharistic celebrations (joint liturgies) with Constantinople.