Verkhovna Rada members call for unity in Orthodox Church

KYIV - A group of Ukrainian national deputies held a press conference in the first week of January to call for unity among the factions of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, reported Respublika.

The group, which calls itself "The Group for One Orthodox Christian Church in Ukraine", emphasized several points in their press conference. Members stated that the period of economic transition and struggle against corruption would be more dynamic and successful if there was "spiritual consolidation" among the people of Ukraine. Spiritual consolidation, according to the group's resolution, is no less important than political unity, and at present is as important to the future of an independent Ukraine as was the confirmation of the Constitution.

"Ukraine needs," according to Lilia Hryhorovych, the coordinator of the press conference, "a spiritual constitution - one unified Orthodox Christian Church."

The group called upon President Leonid Kuchma to use his authority as head of state and guarantor of the political Constitution to work for the unification of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. A unified Orthodox Church is seen as essential to the best interests of the citizens of Ukraine. Group members asked the president to work with them to convince Church leaders that Ukraine should have a one unified Orthodox Christian Church by the year 2000. The group will also request that the president chair an organizing committee that will plan commemorations for the millennial celebrations in Ukraine of the birth of Christ.

According to National Deputy Pavlo Movchan, one of the founding members of the group, inter- and intra- confessional problems are among the most serious that Ukraine faces and will influence the political campaigns for the Verkhovna Rada in 1998 and for president in 1999. He also pointed out that in Russia opponents to the continued independence of Ukraine have used and will continue to utilize the unstable religious situation to create political instability in Ukraine.

The "Group for One Orthodox Christian Church in Ukraine" was formed in October 1995, and at present, 55 legislators are registered. The coordinator of the group is National Deputy Yurii Zandarovych, representing Ivano-Frankivsk, and a member of the Rukh faction in Parliament.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 26, 1997, No. 4, Vol. LXV

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