Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill has sent the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko congratulations on the occasion of independence Day of Ukraine and expressed hope for " good cooperation of public authorities and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the interests of stability of the Ukrainian society ".

Russia and Ukraine both canonically under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarch. In addition to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine are not recognized by the world Orthodox Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the so-called Kiev Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.

"The Church continues to call people with different views, aspirations and expectations, for harmony and for mutual forgiveness and joint work for the benefit of the common homeland," said Patriarch Kirill in his message to President of Ukraine, which is reproduced on the first day of the week on the Internet representation of the Moscow Patriarchate.

before the Commissioners of the Kyiv Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, and With the help of political power for more than 2 decades demanding the recognition of their legitimacy - announced the start of the unification process and the prospects of creating a national Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate agitate unrecognized Orthodox churches to unite in the canonical framework. Poroshenko has said that Ukraine should be its own local Orthodox Church.

Ukraine emphasizes on 23 and 24 August, flag day and independence day. Poroshenko paid homage also Pope Francis. According to his statement, the Holy see " supports efforts that help the Ukrainian people to move forward in the spirit of reunion and peace." One of the three largest churches in Ukraine Greek Catholic (Uniate), which preserves the Orthodox rites, but recognizes the Pope as its head.

sections: Politics