ROC warns Ukrainian President against meddling in Church's internal affairs

The Russian Orthodox Church has interpreted Petro Poroshenko's words about the creation in Ukraine of the Unified Local Orthodox Church as an attempt to interfere in the affairs of the Church, reports Interfax-Religion.

"Interference in the Church's internal affairs is evident," Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, secretary for inter-Orthodox relation at the Synodal Department for External Church Relations, told the news agency.

The President's statement today was "not in any way agreed on with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is the autocephalous Church of Ukraine recognized by the whole Christian Orthodox world," the priest said.

"Obviously, attempts to resolve church's problems without the Church itself are doomed, as was repeatedly stated by the aforementioned Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Most likely, those politicians who are trying to earn political capital on this topic should heed the opinion of autocephalous Orthodox church leaders, and stop meddling in the internal affairs of the Church," the Synodal Department representative said.

During the annual address to the Verkhovna Rada, the President said that Ukraine is entitled to an autocephalous Orthodox Church and will seek its creation.