Patriarch Kirill: Ukrainian Orthodox Church needs our prayers

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus. Photo: zen.yandex.ru

On December 20, 2019, at the annual Eparchial meeting of the clergy of Moscow city, held at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus urged priests to diligent prayer for church unity and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the website patriarchia.ru reports.

According to Patriarch Kirill, the elements of this world took up arms against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church: everything was done so that it ceased to exist. That is why, the Patriarch said, it is necessary to pray for the UOC and the unity of the Church. 

The Primate of the Russian Church also stated that “in our Church, a prayer for our brothers in Ukraine was offered and continues to be offered at the Divine Liturgy. The socio-political situation has changed there, but the Church keeps standing and strengthening in the faith.”

He reminded the clergy that “our prayers are not a formality; they are building the Church. Strong prayer is what the Ukrainian Orthodox Church expects from us.”

Patriarch Kirill also noted that "it is equally important – always, as before, to receive our brothers with warmth and love when they come here to pray with us and revere our common shrines."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, today all Christians must maintain the unity of holy Orthodoxy and fidelity to the canonical Church.

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