UGCC will build 'strategic alliance' in its relations with Ukrainian Orthodox churches

During his first press conference today at UNIAN information agency, Patriarch Sviatoslav shared his vision of the relations between the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. He calls it, above all, a constructive dialogue, cooperation and coexistence in an alliance to defend traditional Christian values. It is not about merging.

“Our policy, that is our way of communicating with them, will progress toward a constructive dialogue and cooperation. I would like to share with you my most recent ideas and impressions.

"Right before our synod, I attended an international conference of the very important charitable organization Church in Need in Germany. I was invited to serve a celebratory liturgy according to our rite. Right after the liturgy, a roundtable was held with the participation of the prefect of the Papal Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Koch, as well as with the head of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Ilarion Alfeiev.

"It was a very interesting roundtable where the necessity of a strategic alliance between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church was voiced. Obviously, we feel a part of such a strategic alliance. But in what sense? Metropolitan Ilarion explained that it is not about merging or subordinating to someone. 'Strategic alliance' is rather a military term. What does it mean? That we today should jointly defend traditional Christian values.

"Let me quote the Metropolitan Аlfeiev: 'We do not have to struggle against Islam in Europe. But we must struggle for the strength of Christianity. We do not intend to oppose abortions, but we intend to struggle for human life. We do not so much want to struggle against a distorted view on Christianity as for the traditional Christian Evangelical values, which have been brought by the Church of Christ to the modern human since the times of the Apostles. You know, I personally and our whole Church feel very comfortable in such a 'strategic alliance.'

"Moreover, in his greeting address to me, His Beatitude Volodymyr calls me to do just that, to build the Ukrainian society together on the basis of Christian values that are held sacred by our churches in their traditions,” said the head of the UGCC.