The patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church has arrived in Kiev for a 10-day visit aimed at reasserting Moscow's dominance over the church's leaders in Ukraine.
Patriarch Kirill said Monday he would pray for the two nations’ “unbreakable spiritual and church unity.” The statement was a reference to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko’s efforts to establish an independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
The nation’s main Orthodox church answers to Kirill, but some church leaders have proclaimed themselves independent of Moscow and have been gaining popularity and political support from Yushchenko.
The president is encouraging church leaders in Ukraine to shake off Russia’s spiritual and political grip.
