KIEV, Ukraine – A historic council of Orthodox bishops in Kiev has created a new Ukrainian church independent from Russia, President Petro Poroshenko announced on Saturday. But he also said that those wishing to remain loyal to the Russian Orthodox church could do so. Vitaliya Popovych, also at the rally, said she hoped Ukraine would have a new independent church “that will have a pro-state position”. It led the Russian Orthodox Church to cut all ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The synod aimed to unite various branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine into a single independent body.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 15, 2018 22:52 UTC