President: there must be no bloodshed after we get Tomos
Petro Poroshenko assured that after the creation of the Ukrainian Local Church, freedom of faith will be preserved in Ukraine.
After the Tomos has been granted, the authorities will not allow any provocations. This was stated by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in his interview with the television channel Pervyi Zapadnyi ("First Western"), published on the official website of the President.
"I emphasize that even after receipt of the Tomos, we will not allow any provocations no matter what cassocks the provocateurs might wear," the President said. “Everyone will walk his own way to God. And we will prevent and should prevent the shedding of even a single drop of blood because only by faith and prayer will the Ukrainian Local Orthodox Church be created and come into its own."
Poroshenko also noted that Patriarch Bartholomew appointed exarchs who started work on the final lap to grant the Tomos to Ukraine.
"I’ve never said anything about the exact date or about the fact that Tomos is in our pocket. I continue to insist that receiving the Tomos calls for a prayer of each of us. A sincere prayer to God. Because without God's help this will not occur. We should struggle for the Church to be created," the President concluded.
According to experts, ideologists at the President's Administration place their stake not on the Local church but on conflict mongering.
As reported by the UOJ, previously Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary said that provocations are being hatched against the Kiev-Pechersk and Pochaev Lavras, and the believers of the UOC will defend their shrines. The abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, Metropolitan Pavel, also spoke about threats to the Lavra.
