Ukraine’s President names leader of new church in split from Russia 0 SHARES Share it! The Ukrainian Orthodox church has been beholden to Moscow for hundreds of years, and Ukraine’s leaders see church independence as vital to tackling Russian meddling. The church known as the Moscow Patriarchate, aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church, sees itself as the only legitimate church in Ukraine. It favors European integration and championed the independent church but the Moscow Patriarchate denounces it as schismatic. Ukraine’s state security service raided Moscow Patriarchate church properties in the run-up to the council, but denied the raids were an attempt to silence opposition to independence.

Source: Manila Bulletin December 15, 2018 23:48 UTC