The Primate of the Orthodox Church of
Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, said that together with the Ukrainian
Greek Catholic Church they plan to develop a certain road map for future
cooperation. However, it is too early to speak about the unity of the
Churches.
The head of the OCU was reported by Lviv Portal as saying this on September 12 at a meeting held at the National University "Lviv Polytechnic".
"We, as the unified recognized Ukrainian
Orthodox Church, are willing to further maintain good, warm and
friendly relations with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. In fact, we
see that we are moving in the same direction, we all want to see a
successful, integral independent Ukrainian state. Our Church, as well as
the Greek Catholic Church, stands on patriotic principles. We have had
recurrent meetings with Archbishop Sviatoslav at which we discussed our
future cooperation. We must seek common ground that unites and not
divides us. The history of the coexistence of our Churches contains
different pages, but now we must look for what unites us, look for what
in the future can develop into good cooperation. Repeatedly
communicating with His Beatitude Svyatoslav, we reiterated that together
we should draw up a road map of our future cooperation, as it can
develop into a certain dialogue," Metropolitan Epifaniy said.
The Primate of the OCU also noted that
it is too early to talk about a certain unity of the Churches. However,
the head of the OCU is happy that the UGCC positively received the Tomos
on autocephaly and recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarch.
"This testifies to the fact that all of
us in Ukraine want to be unified as a nation, we want to do good
together, everything for Ukraine to be a strong state. After all, we see
on the part of our northern neighbor that he seeks to divide us from
within. He saw it is impossible to enslave us that physically and with
weapons because the Ukrainian people showed that they are spiritually
strong. And if we are spiritually strong, then any weapon will not be
able to enslave and destroy us. Therefore, there are attempts on the
part of the aggressor to set us at variance from inside, especially on
religious grounds. Therefore, I think in the future, good and warm
relations between our churches, which are to develop, will prevail," the
first Hierarch said.
According to Metropolitan Epifaniy, the key to the unity of the two Churches is not in Ukraine.
"This key rests in Rome and
Constantinople. After all, Ecumenical communication evolves there. In
the future, our relations here in Ukraine will depend on it. But these
relations are good and I believe that in the future they will only
improve," explained the head of the OCU.