Kyiv Post: Battle of Orthodox Christian patriarchs as Ukraine's Filaret denounces Russia's Kirill

Commenting on the statement of Russian Christian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill that the EuroMaidan demonstrations are a threat to the spiritual unity of Ukrainians and Russians, the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine Filaret stated: "This is not true."

"If we take the idea that Kirill defends – Rusky Mir (Russian World) - it is not unity, it is empire, wrapped in a nice package. In fact, it is about creating a new empire. The Customs Union is the beginning," said Filaret, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin's revival of an economic and political union of former Soviet republics including Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia. Putin also hopes to include Ukraine, the second largest former Soviet republic, in the grouping.

According to Filaret, "the truth is to practice the Orthodox faith, and each nation will have its own independent church, as required by the canons of the church."

Read the full article in Kyiv Post here:
Battle of Orthodox Christian patriarchs as Ukraine's Filaret denounces Russia's Kirill