Patriarch Kirill: Union of Uniates and schismatics on the basis of nationalism presents a danger to Orthodoxy

Attempts are now being made to involve the Ukrainian Church in a deep conflict separating society and make it a pawn of this conflict. This was said by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia at the celebration of his 70th birthday in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, reports the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church.

"Common interests of the Ukrainian Uniates and schismatics in their opposition to the canonical Orthodoxy in Ukraine became possible on the basis of the radical nationalist ideology and politicization of the religious sphere," stressed out Patriarch Kirill.

The Primate said that this political union in the future may have other consequences dangerous to Orthodoxy. "It is no accident that the Greek Catholics are so actively building churches and conducting missionary work where historically they have never had the flock," he added.

"The sin of schism is healed not by violence and deceit, but repentance and love in Christ. From painful sores of Ukrainian schism the whole body the Church suffers, and the pain of it is felt not only in Ukraine but also in the diaspora and in the canonical territories of other Local Churches. Risk of divisions in the Church is clear to all of us. That is why the Russian Church anathema of former monk Filaret (Denisenko) was supported by all the Local Orthodox Churches," concluded the Patriarch of Moscow.

As reported by the UOJ, Patriarch Kirill said that the ROC will never agree to a change of its canonical borders in Ukraine.