Top Orthodox patriarchs to meet in Ukraine

Kiev, Jul. 23, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The two most powerful leaders of the Orthodox world-- Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow-- will be in Kiev, Ukraine, this weekend to join in celebrating the 1020th anniversary of Christianity there.


The "Baptism of the Rus" is seen by the Moscow patriarchate as the historic foundation of the Russian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Alexei will preside at a liturgical celebration of the event on July 28.



Patriarch Bartholomew, the acknowledged "first among equals" of the world's Orthodox patriarchs, will also be in Kiev to commemorate the event. But his presence will highlight tensions between Moscow and Constantinople-- and within the Orthodox community of Kiev.


The Orthodox Church in Ukraine has actually been split since 1992, when Metropolitan Filaret-- who had been the head of the Russian-backed Ukrainian Orthodox Church-- broke with Moscow to establish an independent Kiev patriarchate. The Russian Orthodox Church has refused to recognize that group, claiming that it is schismatic. Instead Moscow recognizes the rival Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow patriarchate, and emphasizes the strong historic bonds that have bound Ukrainian and Russian Orthodoxy.



However Patriarch Bartholomew has shown a willingness to recognize to the Kiev patriarchate. Ordinarily, other Orthodox leaders accept the churches that receive canonical recognition from the Patriarch of Constantinople. But the Russian Orthodox Church has hotly disputed the Ecumenical Patriarch's recognition of an autonomous Estonian Orthodox Church, and even more fiercely resisted the recognition of Patriarch Filaret's group in Ukraine.


A spokesman for the Moscow patriarchate said that the Russian Orthodox Church hopes the meeting of Patriarchs Bartholomew and Alexei can resolve the tensions over Ukraine. Archpriest Nikolai Balashov to reporters: "We are convinced that the church separations that exists in Ukraine can be successfully overcome only on the basis of Orthodox solidarity.”


Meanwhile at a symposium being held in Kiev, a Russian political analyst charged that the split in the Ukrainian Orthodox community serves the interests of the Vatican, the Interfax news service reports. Konstantin Zatulin, the head of a Russian think-tank, said that the "creation of one local church is a substation on the way to subordination." He rejected the notion that Ukrainian Orthodox believers could unite in a single body independent from Moscow. "When a schism is called unity," Zatulin said, "it is a trick."



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