Several thousand Ukrainians rallied outside one of Kiev’s main cathedrals Saturday ahead of a historic synod expected to establish an Orthodox church independent from Russia. “Let’s stand and pray for a Ukrainian church to be created today,” he said as he greeted several of the rally’s participants. He has made an independent Church a campaign pledge as he looks ahead to an unpredictable election next year. Throwing off Russian oversightThe synod will seek to realize a landmark decision by Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to recognize Ukraine’s independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. The synod aims to unite various branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine into a single independent body.

Source: Egypt Independent December 15, 2018 12:45 UTC