Commenting on the statement of Russian Christian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill that the EuroMaidan demonstrations are a threat to the spiritual unity of Ukrainians and Russians, the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine Filaret stated: "This is not true."
“If we take the idea that Kirill defends – Rusky Mir (Russian World) – it is not unity, it is empire, wrapped in a nice package. In fact, it is about creating a new empire. The Customs Union is the beginning,” said Filaret, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s revival of an economic and political union of former Soviet republics including Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia. Putin also hopes to include Ukraine, the second largest former Soviet republic, in the grouping.
According to Filaret, “the truth is to practice the Orthodox faith, and each nation will have its own independent church, as required by the canons of the church.”
Filaret also said that Ukrainian authorities should punish those who break the law, while the church and ordinary people who stand on Maidan (Independence Square) should forgive. The EuroMaidan demonstrations, which aim to force President Viktor Yanukovych’s resignation, entered their 49th day on Jan. 8.
In an interview with the Fifth Channel TV station, the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine Filaret commented on the question of whether people should forgive the government for beating activists during the Maidan crackdown.
According to Filaret, the reason why Maidan stands is that, “people seek justice.”
“People expectedthat the agreement (with the EU) would be signed, and it did not happen. Students resisted but they were beaten. The nation is outraged,” plained Filaret.
Additionally, the patriarch said, “Justice requires punishment, and Christianity forgiveness.”
“Therefore, one should punish, and others forgive. Who has to punish? To whom God has given the sword. God has given the sword to the authorities. Therefore, the authorities should punish, and the church should forgive. Are ordinary people who stand on Maidan Christians? This means they must forgive,” said Filaret.
“The authorities must carry out their duties to protect the good and to punish evil. When it punishes the good and protects the evil, such authority does not fulfill its obligations”, underlined the Patriarch.
He also said, “Beating is not God’s will.”
In addition, he said that the church, “must be out of politics.”
“But it has to be with the people. Moreover, when people are beaten, it must save the people, to give them shelter. It is not an accident that the Mykhaylivsky Monastery received those who were brutally beaten,” said Filaret.
The original article can be found in Ukrainian on the Ukrainska Pravda website at:
