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Dear President Yanykovych
"Christ is Risen! - Indeed He is Risen!"
In these United States, we are thankful to Almighty God for the religious freedoms we have. We are where brothers and sisters can exist together...even though there may be many differences of faith or tradition.
As a Ukrainian in the Apostolic Faith, I am writing to implore you to stop the judgment in the Kyiv Court of Appeals to demolish our Patriarchal Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Temple in Kyiv. This action is against our Holy Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox - Canonical and against the person of our beloved Spiritual Father His Holiness +MOISEY (Oleg Koulik) who was rightly elected and enthroned as our Patriarch at the hands of my brother Hierarchs from the Ukraine, Europe, South America, Mexico and the United States in 2005. Due to medical reasons, I was unable to attend this great, historical event in the life of our Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church!
The whole world wants peace and strives to attain it. This peace is needed by the Ukrainian people and true peace comes with religious freedom!
Over ONE MILLION American Ukrainians feel deeply the trials of the Ukrainians in Europe and the past injustices of their denial to freely practice their Orthodox Faith. Although there are factions within the Holy Church...for various theological and political reasons...they, still, remain together united as the Ukrainian Orthodox Faith which nourishes the hearts and souls of the people. President Yanykovych, you cannot allow the Ukrainian Government to interfere with the belief of the Ukrainian people. Leave the divisions of Faith in the hands of Almighty God Who will work things out. Divisions and the strife which comes from it, is a true "test of our charity" and that is why Almighty God allows these things to happen. For the Ukrainian Government to demolish our Cathedral would most certainly be an atrocity and against the Divine Will of Almighty God! Such hatred would certainly bring about further acts of violence for your country.
Please, Mr. President, the Ukrainian nation should set an unprecedented example for the world and you should be the Great Leader to do it! Call upon your Ukrainian Government...to Mr. Azarov, the Prime Minister and to Mr. Chernushenko, the Head of the Kyiv Court of Appeals...to stand firm for the spiritual rights of your people! Members of our UAOC-C, our Patriarch, our Hierarchs, our Presbyters, our Monastics and our devoted Faithful have entrusted you to protect and guide them...do not disappoint them in their time of trials. Don't allow their Holy Temple dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord be torn down or taken from them. These people sacrificed over three years with their time, talents, finances and labour to build this Holy Temple and when they pray it is not just for our members but for you, for the entire Ukrainian nation and for Ukrainians throughout the world. Certainly, you cannot deny their prayers to Almighty God or demolish their Temple!
As Ukrainians in America, who send money to support our Loved Ones still in the Homeland, we appeal to you to prevail upon the Kyiv Court of Appeals to stop this horrible consideration!
Just look at the events over the past few months in the world. Terrorist regimes have been overthrown and their cruel leaders hunted down and brought to justice. Certainly, we do not warrant taking of life; but, ask that all be done beforehand to prevent such acts.
Regarding the survival of our Holy Patriarchal Temple in Kyiv, an impartial commission should be established to investigate any reports. -- I am confident you will find, Mr. President, "God-fearing" devoted Ukrainians wanting nothing more than to freely worship Almighty God in the "religion of their fatherland" in the temple they have built with their own hands! And, remember, these are the same hands that light the candles and pray for you, your family, the Government and for peace both in the Ukraine and throughout the world.
Please, Mr. President, DO NOT REPEAT THE ATROCITIES OF LAST CENTURY!
May Almighty God, through the intercessions of His Holy Mother the Theotokos and St. Vladimir the Great, the Prince and Apostle who brought the Holy Orthodox Faith to the Ukrainian People over 1,000 years ago, shower you with His Choicest of Blessings and direct your heart, words and actions.
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