UN Deputy Secretary-General Met with Heads of Ukrainian Churches
The chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary met with Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Jan Eliasson on March 6. The UN delegation is in Ukraine to learn about the situation in the country.
During the meeting, the peacekeeping role of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and other religious organizations in Ukraine was discussed.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary of the Department for External Church Relations archpriest Mykolai Danylevych, the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate reports.
On the same day, the UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson also met with the Patriarch Filaret of the UOC-Kyivan Patriarchate. The patriarch told the guest that the Ukrainian people are committed to peace: “The aim of the Ukrainian people is to be part of the European Union. Ukraine wants to get to do away with its totalitarian regime and become a real democracy. Therefore, the church prays that no force will be used in Ukraine but that the Ukrainian people will live in peace.”
In turn, Jan Eliasson stressed the need for a peaceful resolution to the current conflict: “The message of peace to the people in the country is very important. It is important to spread this message across Ukraine and in the world. I think your people showed surprising restraint and calm in such a tragic situation where people lost their lives. Now a lot is at stake. So I really have hope in your voice, which appeals to all citizens and which unites all citizens in a time when other parties are trying to divide the parties. At such times it is important to hear the voice of reason, moderation, and principle. Of course, it's your country and your integrity that you want to keep. At the same time we must be careful not to exacerbate the confrontation.”
Jan Eliasson wished Ukraine peace and prosperity and a rapid resolution to the conflict, the press service of the Kyiv Patriarchate reports.
