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12 October 2018, 12:44Ukrainian Orthodox Church not to participate in unification assembly initiated by "Kiev Patriarchate" updated)
Moscow, October 12, Interfax - The Ukrainian Orthodox Church will not participate in the unification assembly initiated by Filaret (Denisenko), the head of the "Kiev Patriarchate", Vasily Anisimov, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's press service, told Interfax-Religion.
"We are already a canonical local church. Why should we participate in the creation of another [church], especially with people whom we have suspended from service for various crimes?" Anisimov commented to the agency.
Ukrainian Orthodox Church bishops have apostolic continuity and grace from Christ himself, as do the priests ordained by them, he said. "Our church is fully accomplishing its saving mission on Ukrainian soil and no one questions this mission, including other Orthodox churches of the world, Catholics, and even the schismatics themselves," he said.
"If you have a cow that gives you milk, and this cow is good, you don't rush to get a different one," Anisimov said, adding that the calling of a "unification assembly" in Ukraine is essentially "a purely political initiative."
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