The Orthodox Church in Ukraine is independent after 330 years of Russia

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has signed a decree today granting autocephalia, or independence to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, thus ending over 330 years of Russian religious control in Ukraine.

At the ceremony held in Istanbul, considered the spiritual headquarters of Orthodox Christianity, Ukrainian President Petro Porosenko has also attended.

The decree, or “tomosti”, will be handed over on 6 January to the new head of the Ukrainian Church, the Metropolitan Epifanity, to complete this two-day ceremony.

It's a great honor for me to visit Istanbul, where this event we've been waiting for so long will be held tomorrow”, he wrote on Facebook Porosenko, referring to the signing ceremony.

Poroshenko has said this step will open a new “etatape in Orthodox history. We pray for peace and unity”, he said.

Patriarch Bartholomew had announced that he would recognise Ukraine's bid for its church's independence in the month of October last year. Two months later, the Ukrainian Orthodox leaders had agreed to establish a national Orthodox Church and had chosen 39-year-old Epiphany to the top of the church.

Russia has long rejected the efforts Ukraine has made to independent its church. /