“If God gives you some talent, you have an obligation to use it.” 08.05.2008, [16:59] // Kaleidoscope // Artist Volodymyr Svietlohorskyi, official iconographer of the Old Believers’ Eparchy in Ukraine, speaks with Yurii CHORNEI, RISU’s correspondent in southwestern Ukraine’s Chernivtsi Region.
A mile in their shoes 16.05.2008, [08:04] By Moshe Gilad
Tags: Jewish History, Ukraine
The city of Zhytomyr in western Ukraine does not appear on tourist maps. It lies 100 kilometers west of Kiev and today has some 300,000 residents. It is a commercially important city, situated along the main road connecting Warsaw and Kiev, but tourists don't have any real reason to visit there. Ukrainian Bishop Authors Controversial Book on Faith 30.04.2008, [15:53] Ukrainian Evangelical Migration 04.04.2008, [11:23]
US Ambassador and State Committee Head Discuss Religious Freedom in Ukraine 07.05.2008, [11:21] // Foreign relations // Kyiv— Head of the State Committee on Matters of Nationalities and Religions (SCMNR) Aleksandr Sagan met with the US Ambassador to Ukraine William Tailor on 5 May 2008 in Kyiv to discuss religious issues in Ukraine. The representatives addressed questions pertaining to freedom of worship and confession, restitution of religious buildings, activity of migration service bodies, how to best combat xenophobia, racial intolerance and antisemitism, and implementation of an ethnic-national policy.
Latest news
Ukrainian President Greets Christians on Pentecost 16.05.2008, [13:36] // Church-state relations // Kyiv—Yesterday, the press service of Viktor Yushchenko posted the Ukrainian president’s address to Christians on the occasion of Pentecost. ROC Approves Appointment of New ROCA Head 16.05.2008, [13:27] // Inter-Christian relations // Kyiv— On 14 May 2008, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church approved the election of Archbishop Hilarion (Kapral) of Sidney, Australia and New Zealand as Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA). Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and All Russia consecrated the archbishop metropolitan on 12 May 2008 in view of his election by the Synod of Bishops of the ROCA. Kyiv City Council Urges Kyivenerho to Cede Building to UOC 16.05.2008, [13:21] // Church-state relations // Kyiv— On 13 May 2008, the Kyiv City Council held a press conference at LIGA Buisness Inform’s (LBI) press center to reinforce the transferred ownership of a building at 7 Ovruchska Street from Kyivenerho to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Kyiv City Council deputy Oleksii Omelchenko urged the joint-stock power-supplier to voluntarily vacate the building, which was accorded to the community of the Church of St. Fedor the Sanctified by the City Council in decision 1989 of 22 August 2007.
According to Omelchenko, Kyivenerho’s management is trying “to distance themselves from this issue by any means and say that they are not interested by the problem.” UGCC Parish in Greece Celebrates its 10th Anniversary 16.05.2008, [09:06] // UGCC // Recently the parish of the UGCC in Athens (Greece) celebrated its 10th anniversary. The participants of the celebration were the Most Rev. Dionisiy (Lyakhovych), Curial Bishop, and the Most Rev. Yulian (Voronovskyj), Eparch of Sambir and Drohobych. International Conference of Orthodox Chaplains Held in Kyiv 16.05.2008, [08:51] // Conference // Kyiv— An international conference of Orthodox chaplains organized by the Synodal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Armed Forces of Ukraine is to be held at the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves on 13-15 May 2008. The conference commenced with the blessing of Metropolitain Volodymyr Sabodan, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP). State Committee Deputy Head and Muslim Leader Discuss Church-State Relations 16.05.2008, [08:43] // Muslims // Kyiv—On 13 May 2008, deputy head of Ukraine’s State Committee on Matters of Nationalities and Religions (SCMNR) Mykola Novychenko met with the Head of the Kyivan Muftiate – the Spiritual Administration of Muslims in Ukraine – Kanafiia Khustnutdinov to discuss various aspects of the Muftiate’s activity. Specifically, the two representatives addressed issues relating to pilgrimages (or hajj), publishing religious literature, charitable activities, social ministry, international connections, conferences and events, and allocation of land for the construction of religious buildings. Head of Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church Receives Award From Ukrainian President 16.05.2008, [07:59] // Foreign relations // Kyiv—On May 8 2008, Ukrainian president Victor Yushchenko awarded the Head of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church (PAOC), Metropolitain Sava (Hrytsuniak) of Warsaw and all Poland, with the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the 5th Degree. According to Yushchenko’s order (424/2008), Metropolitain Sava received the reward “for his personal contribution to in the establishment of good neighbourly relations between Ukraine and the Polish Republic and his fruitful Church activity of many years.”
Yanukovych Attends Church Addition Ceremony in Donetsk Region 16.05.2008, [07:52] // UOC-MP // Donetsk—Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych attended a ceremony celebrating the addition of a dome to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate Church of St. George yesterday in the Donetsk region. Orthodox Priest Beaten by Rival Bishop 12.05.2008, [17:56] // UOC-KP // Kyiv— Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) priest Fr. Yaroslav Buhrynets was severely beaten by Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) Bishop Yakov (Makarchuk) in Odesa. According to a report published by the press service of Odesa Eparchy of the UAOC, the bishop “hit the priest in the face twice while stating ‘I hereby pass earthly judgment,’ in the presence of police officers and members of the UAOC community.” The incident happened near the Church of St. George the Victor, which was returned to the UAOC by the Suvoriv District Court of Odesa on 10 May 2008 after occupied illegally by UOC-KP representatives for a long time (according to the UAOC). RISU's Ukrainian-language web page posted this story on 12 May, 2008. Kyiv Archbishop Comments on UOC Synod’s Decision 09.05.2008, [14:52] // UOC-MP // Kyiv— On 7 May 2008, Father Superior of the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves, Archbishop Pavel Lebid, commented on the Synod’s decision to prohibit bishops and clergy from running in state elections.
“I support this resolution, because the blessing of Metropolitain Volodymyr Sabodan is my highest priority,” said the bishop.
Protestants
Irpen Hosts Round Table Discussion on Christian Values and Euro-Integration 22.04.2008, [15:45] // Protestant // Kyiv—On 19 April 2008, a round table discussion entitled “Christian values in Ukraine and Euro-integration” was held in the Spiritual Revival missionary center in Irpen. The discussion was organized by the Spitirual Revival association, the international internet ministry Baznica.info, and the Other Europe Institute (Latvia) and amassed the participation of religious study experts, theologians, representatives of Protestant churches, and leaders of civil movements. According to the organizers, the meeting’s main subject was the challenges of euro-integration to Christian identity and traditional values. Religions Committee Appreciates Activity of Ukraine Evangelicals 04.04.2008, [18:22] // Evangelical // Kyiv — Mykola Novychenko, assistant head of Ukraine’s State Committee on Matters of Nationalities and Religions, spoke at the annual conference of the Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith of Ukraine on 26-28 March 2008. In his address, the official stressed in particular that the church’s charitable, spiritual and educational activity is highly respected in society. Ukrainian Assembly of God Church Registered by State 03.04.2008, [10:57] // Protestant // Kyiv— On 21 March 2008, the State Committee on Matters of Religions and Nationalities registered the statute of the Ukrainian Assembly of God church (UAG).
Church, Society, State
Ukrainian President Greets Christians on Pentecost 16.05.2008, [13:36] // Church-state relations // Kyiv—Yesterday, the press service of Viktor Yushchenko posted the Ukrainian president’s address to Christians on the occasion of Pentecost. ROC Approves Appointment of New ROCA Head 16.05.2008, [13:27] // Inter-Christian relations // Kyiv— On 14 May 2008, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church approved the election of Archbishop Hilarion (Kapral) of Sidney, Australia and New Zealand as Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA). Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and All Russia consecrated the archbishop metropolitan on 12 May 2008 in view of his election by the Synod of Bishops of the ROCA. Kyiv City Council Urges Kyivenerho to Cede Building to UOC 16.05.2008, [13:21] // Church-state relations // Kyiv— On 13 May 2008, the Kyiv City Council held a press conference at LIGA Buisness Inform’s (LBI) press center to reinforce the transferred ownership of a building at 7 Ovruchska Street from Kyivenerho to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Kyiv City Council deputy Oleksii Omelchenko urged the joint-stock power-supplier to voluntarily vacate the building, which was accorded to the community of the Church of St. Fedor the Sanctified by the City Council in decision 1989 of 22 August 2007.
According to Omelchenko, Kyivenerho’s management is trying “to distance themselves from this issue by any means and say that they are not interested by the problem.”
Catholics
UGCC Parish in Greece Celebrates its 10th Anniversary 16.05.2008, [09:06] // UGCC // Recently the parish of the UGCC in Athens (Greece) celebrated its 10th anniversary. The participants of the celebration were the Most Rev. Dionisiy (Lyakhovych), Curial Bishop, and the Most Rev. Yulian (Voronovskyj), Eparch of Sambir and Drohobych. The Movie “His Grace Andrey” to Be Shown at Cannes 14.05.2008, [08:41] // UGCC // For the first time in the history of the Cannes Film Festival, Ukraine will be presented at a pavilion in Village International, where traditionally the largest market-cinema festival in the world is held. During the festival six Ukrainian films will be shown. Charity Folk-ball "Turnstile" to be Held At UCU 14.05.2008, [08:34] // UGCC // On May 31, 2008, the Ukrainian Catholic University extends an invitation to the charity folk-ball "Perelaz" (Turnstile). The purpose of the folk-ball is to collect funds to establish an educational scholarship named after Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, which will support the best students of UCU.
Other faiths
State Committee Deputy Head and Muslim Leader Discuss Church-State Relations 16.05.2008, [08:43] // Muslims // Kyiv—On 13 May 2008, deputy head of Ukraine’s State Committee on Matters of Nationalities and Religions (SCMNR) Mykola Novychenko met with the Head of the Kyivan Muftiate – the Spiritual Administration of Muslims in Ukraine – Kanafiia Khustnutdinov to discuss various aspects of the Muftiate’s activity. Specifically, the two representatives addressed issues relating to pilgrimages (or hajj), publishing religious literature, charitable activities, social ministry, international connections, conferences and events, and allocation of land for the construction of religious buildings. Ukrainian Rabbi Congratulates Israel on Anniversary of Independence 08.05.2008, [13:58] // Jewish Communities // Kyiv— The Chief Rabbi of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, Asrael Haikin, made a public address on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Israel’s proclamation of independence. RISU’s Ukrainian-language webpage posted this story on 7 May 2008.
The address stressed the importance of the holiday not only to Ukrainian Jews, but millions of Ukrainians wishing the Jewish state peace, happiness, and success. Roman Catholics, Muslims Dispute in Kamianets-Podilskyi 01.05.2008, [09:52] // Muslims // Kamianets-Podilskyi– A Turkish minaret and minbar (pulpit) are being disputed in the central Ukrainian town of Kamianets-Podilskyi (Khmelnytskyi Region). A Muslim organization, Allah's Party, has sued the Roman Catholic community, demanding that it return the minaret and minbar. RISU’s Ukrainian-language site posted the report of correspondent Yulia Zavadska on 30 April 2008.
Spirituality, Religious Life
A New Hierarch Of The Ukrainian Orthodox Church Of The USA Consecrated 14.05.2008, [09:12] // Religious ceremony // The weekend of May 9-11, 2008 has been described as a weekend of a spiritual joy and renewal not only more than 500 people who gathered at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, OH but for the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, as the hierarchs, clergy and faithful of the Church witnessed the consecration of a new bishop of the UOC of the USA in the person of Archimandrite Danyil (Zelinskyi). Confessions United In Combating AIDS in Ukraine 08.04.2008, [13:32] // Charitable activities // Kyiv— From 31 March to 4 April 2008, the Interconfessional AIDS Resource Centre (IARC) in conjunction with the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations offered an AIDS awareness seminar for ministers and parishioners alike. Odesa Mayor Honors Bright House Founder 31.03.2008, [15:06] // Charitable activities // Odesa— Eduard Hurvits, mayor of southern Ukrainian Odesa, has honored Deacon Oleksandr Chumakov, founder and chief administrator of the Bright House refuge for children, with an award “gratitude.” RISU’s Ukrainian-language site posted the news on 31 March 2008.
