Parliamentary Head’s Appearance at PACE: Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia in Ukraine 23.05.2008, [18:40] // Analysis & comments // Maxim VASYN, executive director of the Institute of Religious Freedom (Kyiv), L.L.B.
Commentary on Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko’s appearance at the PACE conference, 16 April 2008. It is not the new religious trends that are booming but the journalists trying to write about them 03.04.2008, [11:00] // Analysis & comments // Liudmyla FYLYPOVYCH, doctor of philosophy, head of the Department of Religious Processes in Ukraine at the Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, executive director of the Center of Religious Information and Freedom of the Ukrainian Association of Religious Studies Experts Church-state relations: What the new year has in store for us. 22.01.2008, [17:18] // Analysis & comments // Volodymyr MARUSHCHENKO, national deputy of Ukraine, senior assistant head of the Christian Democratic Union
“If God gives you some talent, you have an obligation to use it.” 08.05.2008, [16:59] // Kaleidoscope // Artist Volodymyr Svietlohorskyi, official iconographer of the Old Believers’ Eparchy in Ukraine, speaks with Yurii CHORNEI, RISU’s correspondent in southwestern Ukraine’s Chernivtsi Region.
A mile in their shoes 16.05.2008, [08:04] By Moshe Gilad
Tags: Jewish History, Ukraine
The city of Zhytomyr in western Ukraine does not appear on tourist maps. It lies 100 kilometers west of Kiev and today has some 300,000 residents. It is a commercially important city, situated along the main road connecting Warsaw and Kiev, but tourists don't have any real reason to visit there. Ukrainian Bishop Authors Controversial Book on Faith 30.04.2008, [15:53] Ukrainian Evangelical Migration 04.04.2008, [11:23]
Constantinople Patriarch to Visit His Daughter-Church 04.07.2008, [16:19] // Inter-Christian relations // Constantinople-Kyiv— Patriarch Bartholomew I will head the delegation of the Universal Patriarchate at the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. The Holy Synod of the Universal Patriarchate accepted the invitation of Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and Ukraine’s President, Victor Yushchenko, asking the Patriarch of Constantinople to lead the celebratory events.
Latest news
Guide to the Eastern Code Published 04.07.2008, [16:49] // UGCC // Recently the Svichado (Beacon) Publishing House published a Ukrainian translation of a guide-book on the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches edited by Fr. George Nedungatt, S.J. Ukraine’s President: Kyivan Rus Baptism Anniversary Celebration will Help Unify Ukrainian Orthodoxy 04.07.2008, [16:42] // Church-state relations // Kyiv— At a briefing on 3 July 2008, the deputy head of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine, Yuriy Bohutsky, stressed that the president is convinced that “The celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Kyivan Rus will facilitate the unification processes in Ukrainian Orthodoxy.” The ua.for-ua.com received this information from the presidential press service.
“As early as at the time that Victor Yushchenko was the head of the national Bank and the Prime Minister, he always believed that ways to unite the Ukrainian Orthodoxy should be found,” stressed Bohutsky. ROC to Conduct Consultations on Patriarch of Constantinople’s Visit to Ukraine 04.07.2008, [16:36] // UOC-MP // Moscow—The information that Patriarch Bartholomew I is to head the delegation of the Universal Patriarchate during the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of baptism of Kyivan Rus is to be “thoroughly studied” by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). This was stated by Fr. Mykola Balashov, the secretary of the Department of Internal Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate on inter-Orthodox relations. Court of Kyiv Considers Case against Ukraine’s Top Leaders 04.07.2008, [16:29] // Conflict // Kyiv—Today, the administrative district court of Kyiv considered a case against President Yushchenko, Premier Yulia Tymoshenko, and Speaker Arsenii Yatseniuk. The proceedings resulted from a claim of an all-Ukrainian public organization “Orthodox Choice.” The claim was provoked by a letter, known as the “Letter of the Three,” that was written by top officials to the general secretary of NATO. The organization’s active members accuse the Ukrainian leaders of a “crime against the Ukrainian nation and treason of their homeland for drawing Ukraine into NATO.” Risu's Ukrainian-language web page posted this story on 4 July, 2008. All-Ukrainian Procession for 1020th Anniversary of Baptism of Rus Continues 04.07.2008, [16:24] // Religious ceremony // Kyiv— With the blessing of the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan) of the Kyivan Patriarchate, the association Way of the Orthodox resumed the religious procession for the occasion of the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Rus from 16 June 2008.
According to the site of Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), famous icons and relics will be carried in the procession. After the procession, one icon will be presented to Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan) of the Kyivan Patriarchate and another to Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow. Constantinople Patriarch to Visit His Daughter-Church 04.07.2008, [16:19] // Inter-Christian relations // Constantinople-Kyiv— Patriarch Bartholomew I will head the delegation of the Universal Patriarchate at the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. The Holy Synod of the Universal Patriarchate accepted the invitation of Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and Ukraine’s President, Victor Yushchenko, asking the Patriarch of Constantinople to lead the celebratory events. UOC-MP Commemorates Berestechko Battle Heroes at UOC-KP Monastery 02.07.2008, [14:17] // UOC-KP // Rivne—On 29 June 2008, Patriarch Filaret celebrated a liturgy at St. George’s Monastery on Cossack Graves, which, according to the press service of the monastery, was attended by over twenty thousand people. It has already become a tradition for representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) to come to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate’s (UOC-KP) monastery to celebrate a requiem for the Cossacks killed at Berestechko. RISU’s Ukrainian-language web page posted this story on 1 July.
ROC to Conduct Consultations on Patriarch of Constantinople’s Visit to Ukraine 04.07.2008, [16:36] // UOC-MP // Moscow—The information that Patriarch Bartholomew I is to head the delegation of the Universal Patriarchate during the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of baptism of Kyivan Rus is to be “thoroughly studied” by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). This was stated by Fr. Mykola Balashov, the secretary of the Department of Internal Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate on inter-Orthodox relations. UOC-MP Commemorates Berestechko Battle Heroes at UOC-KP Monastery 02.07.2008, [14:17] // UOC-KP // Rivne—On 29 June 2008, Patriarch Filaret celebrated a liturgy at St. George’s Monastery on Cossack Graves, which, according to the press service of the monastery, was attended by over twenty thousand people. It has already become a tradition for representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) to come to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate’s (UOC-KP) monastery to celebrate a requiem for the Cossacks killed at Berestechko. RISU’s Ukrainian-language web page posted this story on 1 July. ROC Comments on Statement of Ukraine’s State Committee 01.07.2008, [17:07] // UOC-MP // Moscow—As reported by RISU on 25 June 2008, the State Committee of Ukraine on Matters of Nationalities and Religions stated that Patriarch Alexis “made at least two mistakes” in his comments about the statute of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church during his speech at the Hierarchical Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Protestants
Web-conference with Pastor Adelaja Addresses Church’s Role in Ukrainian Politics 05.06.2008, [17:54] // Protestant // Kyiv— Pastor Sunday Adelaja was the guest participant in an internet-conference held at liga.net’s press center in Kyiv. Questions for the church leader included: How did the Embassy of God became the largest Charismatic Church in Europe in the past 14 years? How did Chernovetskyi win the elections for mayor again? Why and to what extent is the Embassy of God Church active in the public and political life of Kyiv? RISU’s Ukrainian-language webpage posted this story on 3 May 2008. Irpen Hosts Round Table Discussion on Christian Values and Euro-Integration 22.04.2008, [15:45] // Protestant // Kyiv—On 19 April 2008, a round table discussion entitled “Christian values in Ukraine and Euro-integration” was held in the Spiritual Revival missionary center in Irpen. The discussion was organized by the Spitirual Revival association, the international internet ministry Baznica.info, and the Other Europe Institute (Latvia) and amassed the participation of religious study experts, theologians, representatives of Protestant churches, and leaders of civil movements. According to the organizers, the meeting’s main subject was the challenges of euro-integration to Christian identity and traditional values. Religions Committee Appreciates Activity of Ukraine Evangelicals 04.04.2008, [18:22] // Evangelical // Kyiv — Mykola Novychenko, assistant head of Ukraine’s State Committee on Matters of Nationalities and Religions, spoke at the annual conference of the Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith of Ukraine on 26-28 March 2008. In his address, the official stressed in particular that the church’s charitable, spiritual and educational activity is highly respected in society.
Church, Society, State
Ukraine’s President: Kyivan Rus Baptism Anniversary Celebration will Help Unify Ukrainian Orthodoxy 04.07.2008, [16:42] // Church-state relations // Kyiv— At a briefing on 3 July 2008, the deputy head of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine, Yuriy Bohutsky, stressed that the president is convinced that “The celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Kyivan Rus will facilitate the unification processes in Ukrainian Orthodoxy.” The ua.for-ua.com received this information from the presidential press service.
“As early as at the time that Victor Yushchenko was the head of the national Bank and the Prime Minister, he always believed that ways to unite the Ukrainian Orthodoxy should be found,” stressed Bohutsky. Court of Kyiv Considers Case against Ukraine’s Top Leaders 04.07.2008, [16:29] // Conflict // Kyiv—Today, the administrative district court of Kyiv considered a case against President Yushchenko, Premier Yulia Tymoshenko, and Speaker Arsenii Yatseniuk. The proceedings resulted from a claim of an all-Ukrainian public organization “Orthodox Choice.” The claim was provoked by a letter, known as the “Letter of the Three,” that was written by top officials to the general secretary of NATO. The organization’s active members accuse the Ukrainian leaders of a “crime against the Ukrainian nation and treason of their homeland for drawing Ukraine into NATO.” Risu's Ukrainian-language web page posted this story on 4 July, 2008. Constantinople Patriarch to Visit His Daughter-Church 04.07.2008, [16:19] // Inter-Christian relations // Constantinople-Kyiv— Patriarch Bartholomew I will head the delegation of the Universal Patriarchate at the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. The Holy Synod of the Universal Patriarchate accepted the invitation of Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and Ukraine’s President, Victor Yushchenko, asking the Patriarch of Constantinople to lead the celebratory events.
Catholics
Guide to the Eastern Code Published 04.07.2008, [16:49] // UGCC // Recently the Svichado (Beacon) Publishing House published a Ukrainian translation of a guide-book on the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches edited by Fr. George Nedungatt, S.J. Annual Meeting of Secretaries of Episcopal Conferences of Europe Held in Spain 01.07.2008, [13:54] // UGCC // On June 26-30, 2008, the annual meeting of secretaries of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe is happening in Spain. The Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church is represented at this forum by Bishop Bohdan (Dziurakh), Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC. According to information from Bishop Bohdan, the main theme of the conference (every annual meeting has a main theme) is: "The religious situation in Europe. Between secularization and the search for meaning and spirituality." "The theme reflects those challenges which today stand before the Church in Europe: on one side is the continuation of the process of secularization, on the other is the ongoing search for religious experience. Exactly those questions will be considered at the meeting of this year," the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC explained. Ukrainian World Congress Disturbed by Act of Vandalism in Kharkiv 01.07.2008, [13:36] // UGCC // The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), learning about the act of vandalism which was performed on June 23, 2008, at about 8.00 (a report on this is available at www.ugcc.org.ua/eng/news/article;7172/ ), expressed its great disturbance.
Other faiths
30,000 Ukrainian Jehovah’s Witnesses Gather in Lviv for Special Prayer Service 05.06.2008, [23:09] // Jehovah’s Witnesses // Lviv— On 31 May 2008, approximately 30 thousand Jehovah’s Witnesses from all over Ukraine gathered at Ukraine Stadium in Lviv for a special prayer service in honor of Teodor Yarach, a member of the organization’s leadership, and John Kickot a representative of the organization’s International Center in New York, USA. They have been touring several countries for the past couple of weeks with their respective wives, Melita and Laura, to encourage their fellow-believers. Ukraine Buddhists Demand Parliament Reject New Religion Bill 29.05.2008, [15:21] // Buddhists // Kyiv— Responding to the bill of a national deputy of the Our Ukraine-National Self-Defense bloc, H. Moskal, “On making alterations to the Law of Ukraine ‘On freedom of worship and religious organizations’ (regarding the prevention of activity of religious cults of a destructive character and totalitarian sects),” the Spiritual Board of Ukraine’s Buddhists (SBUB) stated that Parliament’s passing that bill would lead to considerable complications of the relations between religious organizations and state authorities, cause considerable interreligious tension, and seriously undermine Ukraine’s image as a state governed by the rule of law both among believers and internationally. An open address of the SBUB, signed by the head, Dzhordzhe Dzhambo Choizhe-lamy, was released on 26 May 2008. 100 Year Old Torah Scroll Brought to Donetsk Synagogue 29.05.2008, [15:17] // Jewish Communities // Donetsk— The Jewish community of far eastern Ukrainian Donetsk held a ceremony bringing another Torah scroll into the synagogue. The restored scroll is more than 100 years old. Jewish life in post-Soviet Donetsk began with it. in-brief.aen.ru posted the news on 22 May 2008.
Spirituality, Religious Life
All-Ukrainian Procession for 1020th Anniversary of Baptism of Rus Continues 04.07.2008, [16:24] // Religious ceremony // Kyiv— With the blessing of the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan) of the Kyivan Patriarchate, the association Way of the Orthodox resumed the religious procession for the occasion of the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Rus from 16 June 2008.
According to the site of Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), famous icons and relics will be carried in the procession. After the procession, one icon will be presented to Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan) of the Kyivan Patriarchate and another to Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow. A New Hierarch Of The Ukrainian Orthodox Church Of The USA Consecrated 14.05.2008, [09:12] // Religious ceremony // The weekend of May 9-11, 2008 has been described as a weekend of a spiritual joy and renewal not only more than 500 people who gathered at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, OH but for the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, as the hierarchs, clergy and faithful of the Church witnessed the consecration of a new bishop of the UOC of the USA in the person of Archimandrite Danyil (Zelinskyi). Confessions United In Combating AIDS in Ukraine 08.04.2008, [13:32] // Charitable activities // Kyiv— From 31 March to 4 April 2008, the Interconfessional AIDS Resource Centre (IARC) in conjunction with the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations offered an AIDS awareness seminar for ministers and parishioners alike.
