Support The Moscow Times!

Medvedev Hopes for Peace From New Ukraine Metropolitan

Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev leads a government meeting in Moscow, Russia.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday he was sure the new head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Onuphrius, would help bring peace to Ukraine.

"I am sure that you will do everything to instill and preserve peace, strengthen Orthodox unity and revive spiritual and moral values," Medvedev said in a telegram sent to Metropolitan Onuphrius on Sunday to congratulate him on his enthronization as primate of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin congratulated the new metropolitan after his election Wednesday.

"I am sure that in this difficult time for Ukraine, your work as a spiritual leader will contribute to reconciliation and mutual understanding between people, restoring solidarity and stability in society," Putin said.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate is one of three major branches of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. It is the only one whose canonical status is recognized by the whole Eastern Orthodox communion. Despite being under the ecclesiastic jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, the church is autonomous in most of its affairs. Nevertheless, nationalist forces in Ukraine have campaigned for its complete independence for many years.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with the newly elected primate Saturday in his office, stressing that the Church must contribute to dialogue and peace in a country that is going through "difficult times."

While Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill blessed the newly elected metropolitan for service, Onuphrius was elected by the bishops of the Ukrainian Church.

See also:

Ukraine's Rebels Worship the Past, Not God


Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more