Top Orthodox patriarchs to meet in Ukraine

(July 26, 2008) The two most powerful leaders of the Orthodox world-- Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow-- will be in Kiev, Ukraine, this weekend to join in celebrating the 1020th anniversary of Christianity there. The "Baptism of the Rus" is seen by the Moscow patriarchate as the historic foundation of the Russian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Alexei will preside at a liturgical celebration of the event on July 28. Patriarch Bartholomew, the acknowledged "first among equals" of the world's Orthodox patriarchs, will also be in Kiev to commemorate the event. The Orthodox Church in Ukraine has actually been split since 1992, when Metropolitan Filaret-- who had been the head of the Russian-backed Ukrainian Orthodox Church-- broke with Moscow to establish an independent Kiev patriarchate. The Russian Orthodox Church has refused to recognize that group, claiming that it is schismatic. Instead Moscow recognizes the rival Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow patriarchate, and emphasizes the strong historic bonds that have bound Ukrainian and Russian Orthodoxy. However Patriarch Bartholomew has shown a willingness to recognize to the Kiev patriarchate. A spokesman for the Moscow patriarchate said that the Russian Orthodox Church hopes the meeting of Patriarchs Bartholomew and Alexei can resolve the tensions over Ukraine.