In Church matters Poroshenko tries to sit on two chairs, – expert

The director of the Ukrainian Center for Political Studies and Conflictology, Mikhail Pogrebinsky, believes that the All-Ukrainian Cross Procession-2017 impressed the President of Ukraine, so Petro Poroshenko will try to "sit on two chairs" in church matters. So the politologist commented to RIA Novosti on Poroshenko's refusal to pass a bill obliging the Church to agree the appointment of bishops with the state.

"Denisenko (head of the Kiev Patriarchate – Ed.) has a good position under the President," Mikhail Pogrebinsky believes. "He is the leader of the "war party" in the spiritual sphere and is interested in the destruction of the UOC. And the President talks with him in a highly respectful way. He goes to his church, although initially he was (and, perhaps, remains) a parishioner of the Moscow Patriarchate Church. And I think that Poroshenko was impressed with the Cross Procession, which took place in July and gathered about 100,000 people. It seems that he does not want to have a steady reputation of the enemy of the Church before the elections."

At the same time, Petro Poroshenko bluntly stated that Ukraine has the right to the Unified Local Church, and he will personally take care of this issue. In addition, other anti-church bills have not been removed from the agenda.
"We can say that Poroshenko is trying to sit on two chairs," the expert concludes.

Read also

In Ukraine, Trump’s 'spiritual advisor' reassured of religious freedom

Pastor Mark Burns stated that Ukraine, despite the war, is a "beacon of religious freedom."

Lavra brethren congratulate Metropolitan Pavel on 31 years as abbot

The monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra have expressed hope that they will soon be able to pray again with their abbot.

Amsterdam: Intrusion into Lavra Caves – a return to Soviet-era persecution

International lawyer Robert Amsterdam has condemned the actions of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture regarding the inspection of holy relics in the Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, calling it a violation of religious freedom.

Over 20 EU states condemn Hungary for ban on LGBT propaganda among children

“This restricts the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” diplomats state in a joint declaration.

His Beatitude officiates consecration of Bishop of Rakhiv

At the Church of St. Agapitus in the Lavra, the Primate of the UOC ordained a vicar for the Khust Eparchy.

Met Victor: It is painful to see Lavra's relics turned into test subjects

According to the bishop, there is particular concern over how members of the scientific commission will handle the holy relics.