Poroshenko tries to explicate to Phanar why Ukraine needs Local Church

The President of Ukraine met with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople

At the meeting with the Constantinople Patriarch on April 9 during his visit to Turkey, the President underscored once more the importance of creating a Single Local Church, writes the press-service of President Petro Poroshenko.

As reported, the Patriarch of Constantinople, in his turn, congratulated the Ukrainian people on the Easter holiday. "We pray for peace in Ukraine," he said.

Earlier, during the meeting between the Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary and Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew, the Archpriests noted that any schisms in the Church should be resolved on the basis of church canons rather than political expediency, and also the fact that the church schism should be healed and eliminated, rather than legitimized: otherwise it is impossible to achieve real, but not superficial unity of the Church.

Representatives of the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly appealed to Patriarch Bartholomew with requests for the creation of a Single Local Church. The respective talks were conducted by President Poroshenko, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Andrey Parubiy, and Prime Minister of Ukraine Vladimir Groysman.

Read also