Petro and Maryna Poroshenko took part in the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of St. Sophia of Kyiv, which was presided over by the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphany. Today, millions of people are praying for Victory in their local Orthodox Church, which appeared 5 years ago with the will of the Ukrainian people and the determination of the Ecumenical Patriarch, says the fifth President.
“When here, in the walls of Saint Sophia, on December 15, the Orthodox Council was held, which completed the unification of churches, all Ukrainian Orthodox churches – this became the realization of the ancient dream of Ukrainians to have a single, local, cathedral Orthodox Church. When we started this process, no one believed it was possible. It was definitely God’s will. It was the great will of the Ukrainian people, great love for Ukraine. And the determination and courage of the Ecumenical Patriarch,” says Poroshenko. He recalled that on that day five years ago, everything was very fragile: “the decision of the hierarchs was definitely not without the Holy Spirit. Here, in Sofia, when I sat in the presidium of this Cathedral, I had the impression that the Mother of God, painted on the portal, was definitely present in this hall,” Petro Poroshenko shares his memories.
“Five years have passed, and the church has gone its own way. The country has passed very difficult trials in five years. But the church was recognized by world Orthodoxy. The church has undergone a significant increase in parishes and parishioners who have joined. More than a thousand parishes moved, despite the obstacles,” Petro Poroshenko emphasizes.
“Today is another symbolic date. It seemed that the transition from one calendar to another would be very difficult. Very carefully, without any political pressure, the church made this decision – both the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Greek Catholic Church about what you can celebrate, and it is your own choice. And today it is the decision of the church itself. I congratulate the Ukrainians, because this is a symbolic return of our great nation to the European family of nations. The fact that we celebrate church holidays according to the European calendar is a very important contribution. Together with the visa-free regime, together with granting Ukraine the status of a candidate country, with the opening of negotiations regarding our accession. I know that the hard work of returning Ukraine to Europe is just beginning. This is a huge responsibility that falls on the shoulders of every Ukrainian – the Ukrainian authorities, the Ukrainian parliament, the Ukrainian government, the Ukrainian president. At least I will do everything to make it happen,” Petro Poroshenko emphasized.
Maryna Poroshenko congratulated all Ukrainian soldiers who defend our country at the front without holidays and weekends: “I want to congratulate our defenders, our soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who now do not have the opportunity to celebrate this holiday with their families. They are in dugouts and trenches, defending our country. May God protect you! We pray for you and thank you for your love for Ukraine.”