UOC (MP) hierarchs ready to meet with President only on Church’s territory, the Council states

The episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) is ready to meet with the President of Ukraine, but only on the Church’s territory, in particular on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, claims the statement of the Council of Bishops of the UOC-MP.

We bring to your attention the full text of the document:

“On the initiative of President of Ukraine Poroshenko, a meeting with the bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was scheduled for November 13, 2018, on the premises of the National Center for Business and Cultural Cooperation “Ukrainian House”.

With the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, on the agreed date, the bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church gathered at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. On the same day an emergency meeting of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was held which decided to convene the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Having discussed the church-state relations, public statements by state leaders that can be regarded as being directed against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, taking into account the attitudes and opinions of the faithful and the clergy, and also given that church matters should be discussed at church’s territory, the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has decided to meet with the President, but not in the Ukrainian House, but in the territory of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The decision of the Council of Bishops was immediately communicated to the President. However, the President refused to have the meeting.

In view of these circumstances, the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church confirms its readiness to meet with the President of Ukraine, but on the Church’s territory.”