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| Ukrainian priests rile Moscow with moves to set up independent Orthodox Church | Ukrainian priests rile Moscow with moves to set up independent Orthodox Church |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ukrainian priests will hold a historic synod on Saturday to work toward founding an independent church, in what the authorities in Kiev hope will be a further step out of Russia’s orbit. | |
| Ties between the former Soviet neighbours have broken down since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 following a pro-western uprising in Kiev, and this year the tensions have spilt into the religious arena. | Ties between the former Soviet neighbours have broken down since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 following a pro-western uprising in Kiev, and this year the tensions have spilt into the religious arena. |
| The synod will seek to put into practice a landmark decision by the Istanbul-based ecumenical patriarch, Bartholomew I, to recognise Ukraine’s independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. | The synod will seek to put into practice a landmark decision by the Istanbul-based ecumenical patriarch, Bartholomew I, to recognise Ukraine’s independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. |
| The ruling in October sparked fury in Moscow, which has overseen the Ukrainian branch of the church for 332 years, and led the Russian branch to cut all ties with the Istanbul patriarchate. | The ruling in October sparked fury in Moscow, which has overseen the Ukrainian branch of the church for 332 years, and led the Russian branch to cut all ties with the Istanbul patriarchate. |
| The meeting will take place in Kiev’s Saint Sophia’s Cathedral and aims to unite various branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine into a single independent body. | The meeting will take place in Kiev’s Saint Sophia’s Cathedral and aims to unite various branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine into a single independent body. |
| Ukraine’s Moscow-loyal church, however, has said it will not send any representatives to the synod, leaving the Kiev patriarchate of Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the country’s largest branch by number of believers, and the smaller Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church to attend. | Ukraine’s Moscow-loyal church, however, has said it will not send any representatives to the synod, leaving the Kiev patriarchate of Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the country’s largest branch by number of believers, and the smaller Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church to attend. |
| Ukraine-Russia tensions reach Greece’s holy Mount Athos | |
| Ukraine’s SBU security service said this week that Russia was planning “provocations” in the country when the clerics meet. Its deputy head, Viktor Kononenko, asked Ukrainians on Thursday to “refrain from holding any [political] gatherings during this period” so that they “could not be used by the aggressor to weaken or discredit our country”. | Ukraine’s SBU security service said this week that Russia was planning “provocations” in the country when the clerics meet. Its deputy head, Viktor Kononenko, asked Ukrainians on Thursday to “refrain from holding any [political] gatherings during this period” so that they “could not be used by the aggressor to weaken or discredit our country”. |
| Ukrainian authorities raided several Orthodox churches aligned with Russia earlier this month as religious tensions between the two countries grew. | Ukrainian authorities raided several Orthodox churches aligned with Russia earlier this month as religious tensions between the two countries grew. |
| The Russian church and the Kremlin have both said they fear Kiev will use force to take control of Moscow-loyal churches and monasteries. | The Russian church and the Kremlin have both said they fear Kiev will use force to take control of Moscow-loyal churches and monasteries. |
| Before the council, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow appealed to the pope, the UN and others in the west to defend his church in Ukraine from “persecution”. | Before the council, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow appealed to the pope, the UN and others in the west to defend his church in Ukraine from “persecution”. |
| The Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, who is expected to attend the council, has made an independent church a campaign pledge as he looks ahead to an unpredictable presidential election next year. | The Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, who is expected to attend the council, has made an independent church a campaign pledge as he looks ahead to an unpredictable presidential election next year. |
| Kiev officials have framed the issue as one of national security, and Poroshenko has in the past referred to the branch loyal to the Moscow patriarchate as a threat. | Kiev officials have framed the issue as one of national security, and Poroshenko has in the past referred to the branch loyal to the Moscow patriarchate as a threat. |
| The synod comes shortly after a maritime crisis when Russia seized three Ukrainian navy ships and arrested 24 sailors in waters around Crimea. | The synod comes shortly after a maritime crisis when Russia seized three Ukrainian navy ships and arrested 24 sailors in waters around Crimea. |
| If the attempt to create a unified Ukrainian church is successful, it would be among the largest in the Orthodox world in terms of number of believers. | If the attempt to create a unified Ukrainian church is successful, it would be among the largest in the Orthodox world in terms of number of believers. |
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