Patriarch Filaret: Moscow cynically lies about the events in eastern Ukraine

Filaret tells Ecumenical Patriarch: For the first time since the reign of Nazi
Fuhrer Hitler we are faced with massive propaganda against Ukraine which is
extraordinary in its cynicism and falsehood. By almost all means, Russia is
trying to convince the world in the righteousness of its actions.

KYIV, Sep 3, 2014 (UBO*) - Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv
Patriarchate sent a letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in which he disavowed the
accusations of the Patriarch of Moscow that a religious war was allegedly waged in Donbas
and the faithful of the UGCC and the Kyiv Patriarchate are destroying canonical
Orthodoxy. The head of the Kyiv Patriarchate also urged Constantinople to make proper
assessment of the lies about Ukraine spread by head of the Russian Orthodox Church
Patriarch Kirill.

For the first time since the reign of Nazi Fuhrer Hitler we are faced with massive
propaganda against Ukraine which is extraordinary in its cynicism and falsehood. By almost
all means, Russia is trying to convince the world in righteousness of its actions, goes the
document.

The letter by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, in which he interprets the events in the Donbas as
civil war and religious conflict, should be regarded namely as part and fruit of this
propaganda, he added.

The UOC-KP Patriarch gave a brief historical overview highlighting the events that had
preceded the bloodshed in Donbas: the refusal of the then-state leaders to sign the
Association Agreement, Maidan, the shooting of the protesters, the flight of Yanukovych,
the occupation of Crimea, and the insurgency of Russian militants in Donetsk and Luhansk
regions.

In fact, the events in Donbas are the result of armed aggression against Ukraine. The
leaders of the so-called People's Republics, their mercenaries, weapons, funding, and
information support - all of these come from Russia across the borders in the occupied
areas. In other places of Ukraine, except the places where Russian mercenaries are
present, there is no armed conflict or other forms of resistance, characteristic of civil and
religious wars, said Patriarch Filaret.

According to Filaret, the Ukrainian soldiers are representatives of all faiths and nationalities
living in Ukraine. Therefore, the statement by Patriarch Kirill that armed Uniates and
schismatics are fighting in Donbas against the Moscow Patriarchate is also a blatant and
cynical lie.

Unfortunately, there are rare cases when stocks of weapons were found in the churches
or other religious buildings of the Moscow Patriarchate, the terrorists were provided with
accommodation and meals, their criminal activities were morally supported by special
public blessing to fight against Ukraine. Recently, the instances of use by terrorists of
clerical outfit and documents for escape have been disclosed, the latter, to our knowledge,
are being issued by one of the dioceses of the Moscow Patriarchate in Donbas, he said.

All this gives grounds for the Ukrainian servicemen to treat with special attention the
travels of the priests who may in fact be disguised terrorists or their accomplices. I attest
that in this regard our priests are also being caused inconvenience by the Ukrainian
soldiers, which we try to bear with, said the hierarch.

"On behalf of our bishops, clergy and faithful Im writing to you with a request to give your
opinion and reject the lies spread by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. We are asking you to pray
for peace in Ukraine and liberation of our country from external aggression. I hope you
wont have the Orthodox Church involved in the campaign of extreme lies maintained by
the Russian authorities and Patriarch Kirill against Ukraine, said Patriarch Filaret.

It should be noted that on August 14, the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate of
the Russian Orthodox Church published a letter to the Primates of the Orthodox Churches
by Patriarch Kirill, in which he accused schismatics and Uniates in destroying canonical
Orthodoxy in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The next day the letter disappeared from all
websites controlled by the Moscow Patriarchate for unknown reasons.

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*The article above appears through courtesy of the Religious Information Service of
Ukraine. Access RISU at www.risu.org.ua