Poroshenko: Tomos is on a par with army, language and NATO membership

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko

The issue of the Tomos on autocephaly in Ukraine is placed alongside strengthening of the army, language protection and NATO membership. This was voiced by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in his speech at the parade on August 24 in Kiev on the occasion of the anniversary of Independence Day .

"The issue of the Tomos on autocephaly for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine goes beyond the religious framework," the President said. "It's akin to strengthening the army, protecting the language, and struggling for membership with the European Union and NATO. This is another strategic reference point on our historical path. This is a nut and bolt of our independence."

In addition, Poroshenko noted that he is going to put an end to the "unnatural" and "non-canonical" dependence of a significant part of the Ukrainian Orthodox community "on the Russian Church."

Earlier, the President of Ukraine said that "autocephaly is one of the pillars of Ukrainian national security."

In mid-April, Poroshenko turned to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople with a request to grant a tomos on autocephaly to the Church in Ukraine and announced the creation of a Single Local Church. The Verkhovna Rada supported the petition of the President.

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