Personally I hate this notion of Russia VS Ukraine. It's nonsense.
As Father Alexander Shmemann said about nationalism in Orthodoxy. It is a "Unity from below" from the prince of this fallen world. We need to look for unity from above which is Love. Our unconditional love for our maker and in Him the ability to Love all of our brothers and sisters in Christ no meter what nationality they are....
Besides Russians and Ukrainians are ethnically close! So close that we can understand each other without a translator and share the same customs and traditions.
I am originally from the Ukraine and while I support the fact that Ukraine should and WILL have its own completely autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church ( again I say Ukrainian Orthodox, not Ukrainian Catholic Church ) I also do not agree with the notion of a non-canonical Patrarchate of Kiev.
Canonical Autonomy can only be achieved by putting aside our differences and uniting under the only canonical Metropolitan Volodymyr ( yes i know i know he is under Moscow Patriarchate ), but if the Ukrainian Orthodox people truly unite and show the other nations that we are serious about unity than and only than can we talk about a Real Canonical Ukrainian Patriarchate that our people rightfully deserve.
I do not meen to offend any Eastern Catholics brothers and sisters who are under Rome. The Ukrainian Catholic Church in the Ukraine is probably one of the biggest points of disagreement between Rome and Eastern Orthodoxy. If it was reunited to the Orthodox Church it would be a huge step toward full Communion.
Again no disrespect to the Greek Catholic people, and I am not denying the fact that they suffered under the Communist government.
Last edited by Father Anthony; 01/12/07 04:20 AM.
