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UOC-KP Orthodox Patriarch Blesses Ukrainian People’s Party Assembly

02.03.2005, [19:30] // UOC-KP //

Kyiv– Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko), head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP), was invited by the leaders of the Ukrainian People’s Party (UPP) to participate in the opening ceremony for the Sixth Assembly of the UPP, which took place in the Ukraine National Palace on 26 February 2005. At the request of National Deputy Yuriy Kostenko, head of the UPP, the patriarch said the “Our Father” and greeted the more than 3000 delegates and guests of the assembly, wishing them God’s blessing, fruitful work and wise and considered decisions.

Patriarch Filaret stressed the importance of the consolidation and cooperation of all the democratic and patriotic forces which supported President Viktor Yushchenko in Ukraine’s recent presidential runoff election, for the development of Ukraine. This cooperation for the good of Ukraine, can, according to patriarch, become a strong foundation for new social relations among the people of Ukraine, based on the precedence of spiritual over material values.

The UOC-KP site says that, since the founding of Rukh (“Movement” or the People’s Movement of Ukraine for Perestroika) in 1989, whose ideas and spirit are continued in Yuriy Kostenko’s UPP, national-patriotic forces have consistently supported the necessity of creating a National Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. In the name of the UOC-KP, Patriarch Filaret stressed many times that, while it remains outside of politics, the UOC–KP has supported and will continue to support all political forces that work to strengthen Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty, as well as the spiritual and moral revival of its people.

Several UPP activists, including Ivan Drach, Pavlo Movchan and Vasyl Chervonii, are members of the Higher Church Council of the UOC–KP.

Source:

• http://www.uaorthodox.org./news.php?pid=503