The Market for Church Services 10.11.2008, [08:26] // Analysis & comments // Artem HOLUBENKO, Orthodox, economist-marketing specialist, lives in Makiivka, in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Region, one of the authors of the resource „Khata - a portal of Ukrainians of the Donetsk region” (hatanm.org.ua) “Alternative education in Ukraine: Ideological, conceptual and legal aspects” 30.09.2008, [18:12] // 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 The Year of the Great Jubilee [1020th Anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus] 11.08.2008, [17:05] // Analysis & comments // Yurii CHORNOMORETS, Candidate of Philosophical Science.
Odyssey of the “Wild Priest” 02.10.2008, [15:45] // Kaleidoscope // Ivan DYVNYI, editor of the site pamjatky.org.ua, tells the story of a priest of northern Ukrainian Kozelets of the 18th century, Kyrylo Tarlovskii, who received the nickname “wild priest” from the people of Zaporizhzhia.
To the Venerable Clergy, Monastics and Faithful
of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church beyond
the Borders of Ukraine and to our Brothers and Sisters
of the Faith in Ukraine:
Latest news
President Honors Vice Rector of Ukrainian Catholic University 05.01.2009, [15:10] // Church-state relations // Kyiv—Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko awarded the Order of Freedom to Myroslav Marynovych, vice rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University and president of its Institute of Religion and Society, for his personal contribution to the cause of protecting human rights, courage and selflessness in the struggle for the freedom and independence of Ukraine, and fruitful scholarly and journalistic activity. RISU’s Ukrainian-language web page posted this story on 2 January 2009. Sumy Authorities Refuse Land for Constructing Greek Catholic Church 05.01.2009, [15:03] // UGCC // SUMY— On 24 December, the majority of the deputies of the city council in northeastern Ukrainian Sumy voted against allotting a plot on Chervonozoriana Street to the religious community of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). RISU’s Ukrainian-language web page posted the story on 30 December 2008. Controversial Pastor Adelaja Doesn’t Plan to Leave Ukraine 05.01.2009, [14:21] // Violation of rights // KYIV— According to the press service of the Kyiv-based Embassy of God Church, Pastor Sunday Adelaja has been engaged “exclusively in preaching the word of God.” The pastor himself maintains that he is aware of the intention of the police to conduct a search in his place, and it is not excluded that they may intend to arrest him, but he said he is not going to leave Ukraine. kreschatic.kiev.ua posted this story on 30 December 2008.
According to Pastor Adelaja, the faithful of his church have been constantly summoned for interrogations to police departments and asked to sign a document containing a phrase that the pastor personally advertised the services of King’s Capital Company. Ukrainian Greek Catholics to Celebrate Day of Migrant For Third Time 02.01.2009, [14:13] // UGCC // On January 4, 2009, the UGCC for the third time will celebrate the Day of the Migrant. It is difficult to overestimate the value of the diaspora for preserving and developing the UGCC in the 20th century. At the beginning of the last century the Church actively responded to the necessities of the Ukrainian migration of that time. At the end of the 20th century the diaspora gave to the Church great treasures, a whole cohort of prominent, highly-educated, professional people. Presently more than 2 million Ukrainian Greek-Catholics permanently live outside Ukraine, which makes up about one-third of the faithful of our Church. At the beginning of the 21st century a new challenge appears before us – 4.5 million Ukrainians of the fourth wave of immigration need the united concern of the Church on both sides of the ocean. Ukraine (UOC-MP) Rep Attends Enthronement of Orthodox Church in America’s New Head 02.01.2009, [14:07] // UOC-MP // On Sunday, 28 December 2008, the newly elected head of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), Archbishop Jonah of Washington and New York, was enthroned at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) was represented at the celebratory event by the head of the Department of External Church Relations of that church, Archimandrite Kirill (Hovorun). GREETING OF PERMANENT CONFERENCE OF UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX HIERARCHS BEYOND THE BORDERS OF UKRAINE 02.01.2009, [09:34] // Inter-Christian relations // Feast of the Nativity
of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ 2009
To the Venerable Clergy, Monastics and Faithful
of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church beyond
the Borders of Ukraine and to our Brothers and Sisters
of the Faith in Ukraine: Ukraine Evangelicals “Dissociate” themselves from Sunday Adelaja 31.12.2008, [16:06] // Protestant // KYIV — A number of evangelical leaders in Ukraine signed a statement, dated 29 December 2008, and sent exclusively, in English translation, to RISU’s office. The subject is the activity of Pastor Sunday Adelaja, head of the Kyiv-based Embassy of God Church. The leaders, among other things, write that “We radically dissociate ourselves from Sunday Adelaja and his activity.” The original text, with no editing changes, follows.
“In our country of many denominations there is a lack of highly qualified specialists with a knowledge of various religious traditions.” 27.11.2008 // interview // Guests: A married couple of young scholars: Larysa VLADYCHENKO, with a candidate’s degree in philosophical studies, president of the Youth Association of Religious Studies Experts (YARSE), main expert of Ukraine’s State Committee in Matters of Nationalities and Religions, senior lecturer of the Cultural Studies Department of Mykhailo Drahomanov State Pedagogical University, and Oleg KYSELYOV, with a candidate’s degree in philosophical studies, executive secretary of the Youth Association of Religious Studies Experts, academic secretary of the religious studies Department of the Institute of Philosophy of Hryhorii Skovoroda NAS of Ukraine, senior lecturer of the Culture Studies Department of Mykhailo Drahomanov State Pedagogical University. “The present laws are conducive to the moral degradation of the person… But I do not believe it is possible to make a man righteous by legal compulsion.” 27.10.2008 // interview // Guest: Myroslav MARYNOVYCH, vice-rector for university mission of the Ukrainian Catholic University, president of the Institute of Religion and Society, and former member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group. “I am not sure that the work of a narrow circle of scholars can change or even replace inter-denominational dialogue as such.” 21.10.2008 // interview // An interview with Volodymyr BUREHA, holder of a candidate’s degree in theology, a church historian, one of the editors of the popular scholarly Internet portal Bohoslov.ru, and a teacher at the Kyivan Spiritual Academy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate.
Ukraine (UOC-MP) Rep Attends Enthronement of Orthodox Church in America’s New Head 02.01.2009, [14:07] // UOC-MP // On Sunday, 28 December 2008, the newly elected head of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), Archbishop Jonah of Washington and New York, was enthroned at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) was represented at the celebratory event by the head of the Department of External Church Relations of that church, Archimandrite Kirill (Hovorun). UOC-MP Orthodox Head Honors Ukraine Premier 30.12.2008, [20:12] // UOC-MP // KYIV— On 26 December 2008, Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan), head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), awarded Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko the jubilee order of the 1020th Anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus, presented to persons who made efforts for the preparation and conduct of the jubilee festivities this year. Orthodox (UOC-KP) Head Named Honorary Citizen of Kyiv 29.12.2008, [12:11] // UOC-KP // KYIV—The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP), Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko), was named an honorary citizen of Kyiv by decision of the Kyiv City Council. RISU’s Ukrainian-language web page posted this story on 26 December 2008.
Protestants
Ukraine Evangelicals “Dissociate” themselves from Sunday Adelaja 31.12.2008, [16:06] // Protestant // KYIV — A number of evangelical leaders in Ukraine signed a statement, dated 29 December 2008, and sent exclusively, in English translation, to RISU’s office. The subject is the activity of Pastor Sunday Adelaja, head of the Kyiv-based Embassy of God Church. The leaders, among other things, write that “We radically dissociate ourselves from Sunday Adelaja and his activity.” The original text, with no editing changes, follows. Pastor of Kyiv Embassy of God Church To Be Interrogated 30.12.2008, [14:06] // Protestant // KYIV— Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has evidence of the involvement of Pastor Sunday Adelaja, head of the Kyiv-based Embassy of God Church, in the organization of the controversial financial company King’s Capital. Consequently, Minister of Internal Affairs Yurii Lutsenko said: “Adelaja will be interrogated when we have a complete list of questions for him.” RISU’s Ukrainian-language site posted this story on 26 December 2008. Ukraine Evangelical Leaders Call Adelaja to Correct Mistakes 25.12.2008, [11:54] // Protestant // KYIV– Bishops of Ukrainian evangelical churches and associations organized a meeting with the senior pastor of the Embassy of God Church, Sunday Adelaja, on 16 December 2008. During the meeting, they expressed concern and reproof with respect to Pastor Adelaja’s actions and words. In particular, the evangelical leaders critically addressed:
Church, Society, State
President Honors Vice Rector of Ukrainian Catholic University 05.01.2009, [15:10] // Church-state relations // Kyiv—Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko awarded the Order of Freedom to Myroslav Marynovych, vice rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University and president of its Institute of Religion and Society, for his personal contribution to the cause of protecting human rights, courage and selflessness in the struggle for the freedom and independence of Ukraine, and fruitful scholarly and journalistic activity. RISU’s Ukrainian-language web page posted this story on 2 January 2009. Controversial Pastor Adelaja Doesn’t Plan to Leave Ukraine 05.01.2009, [14:21] // Violation of rights // KYIV— According to the press service of the Kyiv-based Embassy of God Church, Pastor Sunday Adelaja has been engaged “exclusively in preaching the word of God.” The pastor himself maintains that he is aware of the intention of the police to conduct a search in his place, and it is not excluded that they may intend to arrest him, but he said he is not going to leave Ukraine. kreschatic.kiev.ua posted this story on 30 December 2008.
According to Pastor Adelaja, the faithful of his church have been constantly summoned for interrogations to police departments and asked to sign a document containing a phrase that the pastor personally advertised the services of King’s Capital Company. GREETING OF PERMANENT CONFERENCE OF UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX HIERARCHS BEYOND THE BORDERS OF UKRAINE 02.01.2009, [09:34] // Inter-Christian relations // Feast of the Nativity
of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ 2009
To the Venerable Clergy, Monastics and Faithful
of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church beyond
the Borders of Ukraine and to our Brothers and Sisters
of the Faith in Ukraine:
Catholics
Sumy Authorities Refuse Land for Constructing Greek Catholic Church 05.01.2009, [15:03] // UGCC // SUMY— On 24 December, the majority of the deputies of the city council in northeastern Ukrainian Sumy voted against allotting a plot on Chervonozoriana Street to the religious community of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). RISU’s Ukrainian-language web page posted the story on 30 December 2008. Ukrainian Greek Catholics to Celebrate Day of Migrant For Third Time 02.01.2009, [14:13] // UGCC // On January 4, 2009, the UGCC for the third time will celebrate the Day of the Migrant. It is difficult to overestimate the value of the diaspora for preserving and developing the UGCC in the 20th century. At the beginning of the last century the Church actively responded to the necessities of the Ukrainian migration of that time. At the end of the 20th century the diaspora gave to the Church great treasures, a whole cohort of prominent, highly-educated, professional people. Presently more than 2 million Ukrainian Greek-Catholics permanently live outside Ukraine, which makes up about one-third of the faithful of our Church. At the beginning of the 21st century a new challenge appears before us – 4.5 million Ukrainians of the fourth wave of immigration need the united concern of the Church on both sides of the ocean. Greeting of His Beatitude Lubomyr on the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ 2009 25.12.2008, [12:43] // UGCC // To the Most Reverend and Reverend Hierarchs,
Most Reverend and Reverend Fathers,
Honored Monks and Nuns,
Dearly beloved in Christ Lay Sisters and Brothers:
Peace and God’s blessing!
Other faiths
Windows Broken in Rivne Synagogue 08.12.2008, [09:41] // Jewish Communities // Rivne—The morning of 3 December 2008, the chief rabbi of central Ukraine’s Rivne Region, Sheorson Shneor, discovered three broken windows in the synagogue facing a main street. According to him no property items were missing, but the situation provoked the concern of the Jews in Rivne. Ukraine’s Buddhists Remember Victims of Holodomor 26.11.2008, [15:13] // Buddhists // Kyiv—On 22 November, Buddhist communities of Ukraine conducted memorial services for the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933. According to the press service of the Spiritual Board of Buddhists of Ukraine, memorial candles were lit in Ukraine’s main Buddhist monastery of Sheichen-ling. Head of State Committee Greets Jews of Ukraine on Occasion of Succot Festival 16.10.2008, [11:31] // Jewish Communities // Kyiv— “The Succot festival is a day of gratitude, joy and fun. The Jewish faith as an integral part of our all-human cultural civilization has been closely intertwined with the culture and religion of the Ukrainian nation for centuries. Society highly appreciates religious tolerance, caring for relatives, and aspiration for peace and good neighborly relations, which is typical of Ukraine’s Jews,” says the address of Oleksandr Sagan, head of the State Committee of Ukraine on Nationalities and Religions. RISU’ Ukrainian-language web page posted this story on 14 October, 2008.
Spirituality, Religious Life
Ukraine Reps Go to Lourdes for International Faith and Light Meeting 10.10.2008, [17:07] // Charitable activities // Lourdes, France— Faith and Light, an interreligious movement supporting the developmentally disabled, is having an International General Assembly in Lourdes, France, from 11 to 18 October 2008. Among the approximately 400 representatives from 80 countries will be three Ukrainians. Caritas Ukraine Continues to Help Flood Victims 09.09.2008, [14:39] // Charitable activities // Kyiv – A campaign of purchasing and distributing humanitarian aid among people who suffered from the flood in western Ukraine has gone on already for two weeks. This campaign is conducted by Caritas Ukraine, based at local centers of Caritas in the region. caritas-ua.org posted the news on 2 September 2008. Caritas Donetsk Opens Center for Street Children 09.09.2008, [14:36] // Charitable activities // Donetsk— The ceremonial opening of a social center for children who find themselves in difficult circumstances, run by Caritas-Donetsk, took place on 26 August 2008 in far eastern Ukrainian Donetsk.
