Philaret Denisenko (1929- ), self-proclaimed “Patriarch of Kiev and all Rus-Ukraine” of the uncanonical so-called “Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate”
Moscow, 22 May 2008 (Interfax):
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko discussed the topic of the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia with the leaders of Ukrainian schismatic bodies. During the course of the meeting, he expressed the hope to “Patriarch” Philaret Denisenko, the head of the so-called “Kiev Patriarchate”, that the forthcoming celebration would help to unite all sectors of Ukrainian society. Mr Yushchenko said that this festival should stress the claim that Christianity spread all over Kievan Russia from Kiev, the press service of the president reported.
In another conversation, Mr Yushchenko stated to Mefody Kudryakov, the leader of the schismatic “Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church”, that he believed that the coming festival shall help to overcome the divisions in Ukrainian Orthodoxy. “We shall not stint on dialogue. First of all, this holiday must be a step towards the union of all the Orthodox Churches”, Mr Yushchenko emphasised. In a telephone conversation with the head of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine of the MP, the president stressed that the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Russia was “not only a holiday (celebrating) not only our spirituality, but, also our statehood”. According to a decree published by Mr Yushchenko, the organisation committee for the preparation of the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia now includes schismatical Orthodox and papist Uniates as well as representatives from the canonical Church.
Interfax-Religion
http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=24580 (in Russian)
Editor’s Note:
There are lacunae in Yushchenko’s statement. Firstly, the organisation of the celebration was in the hands of the MP, it was the only reason that Patriarch Aleksei agreed to take part in it. Secondly, Philaret Denisenko is a defrocked clergyman of the MP. He was once a metropolitan, the head of the DECR in Soviet times. He was a notorious lickspittle and KGB agent, had a common-law wife and children, and a simoniac to boot. Whereas the accusations of KGB collaboration against Patriarch Aleksei are primarily innuendo and circumstantial at best, the guilt of Mr Denisenko was so glaring that the MP Holy Synod kicked him out as soon as it was possible, in 1992. Thirdly, note that Mr Yushchenko met personally with the schismatic renegades, but, only had a telephone chat with Metropolitan Vladimir Sabodan, the true leader of canonical Orthodoxy in the Ukraine. Fourthly, the papist Uniates are now part of the festivities. This is an affront to all Orthodox believers in the Ukraine. Such people are impostors who should have no part in any Orthodox celebration.
Confessor-Metropolitan Vladimir Sabodan of Kiev and all the Ukraine (1935- ), First Hierarch of the Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church of the MP, the only canonical Orthodox body in the Ukraine.
This is already bearing bitter fruit. Walter Cardinal Kasper has returned from Moscow empty-handed. He spun his remarks greatly, but, it was obvious that the MP did not agree to a meeting between Patriarch Aleksei and Pope Benedict, a meeting the latter lusts for with all his heart. There has been high-level informed rumour that Patriarch Aleksei is going to put an anathema on Mr Yushchenko for his treachery. If so, that would be a welcome move, long overdue. I repeat, this is not confirmed in open press sources; it cannot be taken as fact. Nevertheless, it shows the seriousness of the situation.
I may note that many ignorant recent Orthodox converts in the US and Canada minimise this situation. They are offended that the MP is not showing “niceness” to the other parties. This is only an illustration of how thoroughly such people are infested with American Secular Therapeutic Positivism, our hierarchs should act accordingly, and lengthen the time it takes for converts to become clergy, preferably to a period of ten years in the Faith before ordination. We must build a firewall to contain such contamination.
