Believers of the UOC went to the walls of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra in order to testify their faith, their will for unity. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church still remains the most numerous confession of Ukraine, and this was clearly demonstrated by the procession that took place once again, said Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

He recalled that the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church is undergoing undeserved attacks, oppression, and persecution because it seeks to maintain unity with the Russian Orthodox Church. “This unity has historical roots, due to our common faith, our common history,” the hierarch emphasized.

At the same time, Vladyka Hilarion stated that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is self-governing, administratively and financially independent, she herself, without agreement with Moscow, elects her Primate and her bishops. “The only thing that remains is the historical connection with the center in Moscow, the commemoration of the Patriarch during the divine service and the blessing of the elected Primate by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,” the DECR chairman said.

On July 27, a religious procession of the UOC took place in Kiev, dedicated to the 1033rd anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. The UOC estimates that 350,000 people took part in it.