Pro-Russian Orthodox criticize moleben (09/03/06)

Pro-Russian Orthodox criticize moleben

Religious Information Service of Ukraine

KYIV - The heads of the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods of Ukraine (UOBU) and the Union of Orthodox Citizens of Ukraine (UOCU) have criticized the organizers of the moleben, or prayer service, for Ukraine held on Independence Day at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, reported interfax-religion.ru.

"It was worthless to use a cathedral of the Orthodox Church for show," said Valentyn Lukianyk, head of the UOBU. According to Mr. Lukianyk, Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan), head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), correctly avoided participating in the event, inasmuch as "for Church hierarchs participation in similar molebens exceed the limit to which it is possible to give in."

Mr. Lukianyk also said Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych should not have taken part in the moleben with persons excommunicated by the Russian Orthodox Church, namely Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko), head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate.

"This was an occasion when the prime minister should have said that he attends a certain Church and he will pray for Ukraine at his parish. For this was not an official state event where he was obligated to be, but a pseudofolkloric event with a quasi-governmental entourage," said Mr. Lukianyk.

Valerii Kaurov, head of the UOCU, also said that Mr. Yanukovych "as a faithful of the canonical Church," should have stated that religious convictions do not allow him to participate in "ecumenical gatherings." Mr. Kaurov also criticized the participation of Archbishop Mytrofan (Yurchuk), UOC-MP administrator, at the moleben.

| Home Page |