It follows Washington’s backing of Ukraine’s territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.
In a statement State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said: “The United States strongly supports religious freedom, including the freedom of members of groups to govern their religion according to their beliefs and practice their faiths freely without government interference.
“The United States respects the ability of Ukraine’s Orthodox religious leaders and followers to pursue autocephaly according to their beliefs.”
Earlier in September, a meeting was held of the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne Constantinople in Istanbul to consider whether it could grant autonomy to a church that requests it without consulting other churches.
The Hierarchs decided that it could, and so subsequent meetings have been held with a view to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church gaining its autonomy from the Russian Orthodox Church.
Disagreement remains though, with the Ukrainian Church split between a group of clerics who are loyal to Moscow and others overseen by the unrecognised Kiev-based Patriarch Filaret.
The dispute has led to a split in the worldwide Orthodox Church between the Russian and Constantinople branches.
Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.
… Read More
—
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.