LVIV — In his address during the ceremony of consecration of the Church of St. Archistratig Michael (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church) in the village of Plavia of Skole District, Lviv Region, Ukraine’s President Yushchenko said: “I am convinced that we will come to the creation of a unified national church.” RISU’s Ukrainian-language web site posted this story on January 4, 2009.

According to UNIAN information agency, he gave a very high evaluation of the dialogue that started between the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches a few months ago. “It is a very important step,” said Yushchenko as he stressed that it is difficult to talk about unity of the nation without a unified national church.

The president also stressed the importance of the establishment of a unified national church for the further establishment of the Ukrainian state.

He noted that 18 years is too short of a time to consolidate a state. “We have lived a wonderful 18 years. I am convinced that Hetman Mazepa did not have it easier to build Ukraine’s dream – to build a Ukrainian nation,” stressed the president, saying the same about the Sich Riflemen, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, and other warriors for the independence of Ukraine.

The president said that it is pleasant to start the New Year with the opening of a new church in the Boyko land.

In this context, he mentioned the role of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the spiritual development of the Ukrainian nation and development of the Ukrainian state.

“Today the construction of this church is a great victory and testament that each year the Ukrainian nation, which for the last 350 years dreams for one thing – to have its own state, through spiritual reestablishment, spiritual attainment feels itself more a single nation, a single people,” stressed Yushchenko.