Poroshenko: I pray that OCU to continue uniting Ukraine with love and prayer

14:22, 05.01.2019 1 min read

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) will continue uniting the country, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

"I beg you and pray that the Church will continue uniting Ukraine with love and prayer," Poroshenko said on Saturday in Istanbul after the ceremony of signing of the tomos on the autocephaly of the OCU by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

He recalled that in Ukraine, an independent church had been waiting for centuries.

"Among the 15 stars, among the 15 Orthodox churches, a Ukrainian star has appeared. In St. George's Cathedral we heard a prayer in the Ukrainian language. It was a long way for us to this," Poroshenko said.

The president called the signing of the tomos on the autocephaly a historical event and expressed the hope that this day will go down in history forever.