Ukraine never was and never will be canonical territory of Russian church – president

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has stated that Ukraine never was and never will be a canonical territory of the Russian church.

He stated this at the All-Ukrainian Orthodox Unity Council, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The Church of Constantinople implements its mission according to the canons - introduces the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) as an equal among equals to the family of Autocephalous Orthodox Churches. Ukraine was not, is not and will not be a canonical territory of the Russian church," the head of state said.

The unification council of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is being held at Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral. The unification council is to approve the decision on the church unity of Orthodox believers in Ukraine and elect the primate of the single local autocephalous UOC, who on its behalf will receive a Patriarchal and Synodal Tomos of Autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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