Ukraine is closer than ever to the emergence of a unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Poroshenko

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said that the country is closer to the emergence of Ukraine’s own autocephalous local church than ever before. He stated this today during a meeting with the leaders of parliamentary factions.

"Today, Ukraine is closer than ever to the emergence of its own autocephalous local church", - he said.

According to him, the relevant agreement was reached during negotiations with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

However, Poroshenko refused to tell the details of the agreement reached.

"This is an absolutely historic event in Ukraine", - the president said.

Poroshenko said that in the near future he could forward the appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarch, which had already been signed by representatives of church hierarchies, so that it could be considered in the near future at the Convocation.

"I really hope that this decision can be made right before the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Kievan Rus", - he said.