Patriarch of Jerusalem expresses his concern about the schism in Ukraine

PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM EXPRESSES HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE SCHISM IN UKRAINE

The press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reports the visit of His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine to the Holy Land on September 3-12, 2002 and his participation in the celebration of the name day of His Beatitude Irinaios, Patriarch of Jerusalem, on 4-5 September.

During the reception on the occasion Metropolitan Vladimir and Patriarch Irinaios exchanged greetings. Responding to Metropolitan Vladimir’s address the Patriarch spoke about the schism in Ukraine. He expressed his concern about disorder in the Ukrainian ecclesiastical life stressing that they resulted from the present schism and anti-ecclesiastical actions of the schismatic. He also expressed his support both for the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine and her Primate His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir.