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Hot news from Kyiv.....

Clergy of the UOC-MP are setting up a 'chapel' on Khreschatyk near Maidan and will be leading prayers there later this afternoon (local time).

I'd love to learn if this is being done with the blessing of hierarchs.

Схід і захід - РАЗОМ!

Now that I suspect is something we will never know.

But I also wonder if all the 'blue and white' processions with their multitude of religious banners were also with the blessing of the clergy.

Anhelyna

There were several clips of UOC-MP faithful in a processional in favour of the government candidate Yanukovich. One participant in the procession suggested that the Orthodox ought to vote for an Orthodox president. The clips were taken just prior to the first vote.

Shortly afterward Metropolitan Sobodan, UOC-MP, appeared on Ukrainian television and distanced the UOC-MP from any notion of direct and outright support of any specific candidate.

Further indications of dissent within the UOC-MP:

http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;3864/ Some clergy have formally requested Yanukovych and Kuchma to resign.

It seems not all of the UOC-MP clergy want to support atheist criminals and realize an Orthodox President is a much better option.

Dear Diak,

Excellent point.

Sometimes we Ukies give the impression that we are against the entire UOC-MP when, in fact, the majority of clergy there have very pro-Ukrainian independence sentiments - they are just unwilling to join with Filaret (who, let us remember, is not without faults in his past).

Even Met. Vladimir Sabodan - my uncles who were/are Orthodox priests tell me, is a very warm individual.

He is also GREATLY respected by the clergy of the UOC-KP and the UAOC, most of whom had him as their theology professor.

I pray that one day Met. Vladimir might become Ukraine's independent Orthodox Patriarch, uniting all Orthodox in Ukraine (and also not a few Greek-Catholics? ).

Alex

News Alert from the Washington Post

Ukraine Supreme Court Cancels Election Results

Ukraine's Supreme Court declared the results of that nation's disputed presidential run-off election invalid and ruled Friday that a repeat vote should be held.

For more information, visit washingtonpost.com.

God bless

Indeed - just seen it on Brit TV - the second round has been declared invalid

BUT the date that it is expected for a new vote is December 26

Which means that, airlines permitting, Old Calendarists should have the time to go to Ukraine as observers.

If anyone is interested I suggest contacting the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America [ucca.org] . This is for non-Americans as well. I know that the UCCA helped register observers not just from the USA, but also Canada, Great Britain and probably a few other countries. For those who do decide to go send me a PM and I'll share a few personal comments about monitoring in Ukraine.

Разом нас багато - нас не подолати!

Does someone have a source for the decision, in its entirety, of the Supreme Court?

The highest Court's verdict of a "repeat vote" "on or by December 26" appears capable of equivocal interpretation.

However, the decision seems to have acceded to the petition of the opposition led by Yuschenko(and backed by the Polish President) and against the wishes of Pres. Kuchma and PM Yanukovich (with the backing of Pres. Putin of Russia).

So, this should be a classic re-run of the 2nd run-off election only between the two Viktors and no other candidate else.

An East-West encuentro! Mano y mano! No holds barred! Orange vs. Blue (and White) and Russian Red!

Amado

Amado,

The Supreme Court's web site can be found here: Вер&a...;#1072;їни [scourt.gov.ua] .

Before you get all excited, there is no English version of the site and the text of the decision has not yet been published.

Разом нас багато - нас не подолати!

The text of the decision of the Supreme Court of Ukraine (Civil Chamber) is now available online in Ukrainian [www2.pravda.com.ua] . Text courtesy of Interfax-Ukraine [interfax.kiev.ua] .

Разом нас багато - нас не подолати!

Dear Friends,

Good for all the "podoliaky" I say!

FYI, with all the unity our UC community up here is experiencing of late, I'd hate to see all the commotion across the pond end too soon . . .

Alex

Dear Alex, et al:

Makes all the "partiya" nonsence of years past seem all the more silly, doesn't it?

Anyway - not a time to dwell on the past. Time to look toward the future.

Could Ukrainain ecclesiastical unity be far behind? HMMMM.

Разом нас багато - нас не подолати!

Yours,

hal

Hallo Hal!

Yes, all the partiya nonsense . . .

Now, we're all saying "Slava Ukrayini!

(And you know who started that way back when . . .)

Did you know that Stepan Bandera's father, Fr. Andrij Bandera, is on the list of future New Martyrs?

Alex

Amadeus:

The courts have stated:

(1) That the second round of voting was 'flawed' and had to be repeated.

(2) Only the two original secound round final candidates can be included: Victor Yuschenko and Victor Yanukovich.

(3) If Yanukovich decides he will not run (because now everyone knows he is a gangster and rapist and bank robber and probably not good presidential material) against Yuschenko, then it will be Yuschenko against the third candidate (from the first round); Moroz.

(4) If Moroz decides he does not want to run against Yuschenko (with whom he partnered in the second round), then Yuschenko can run alone on the ballot.

(5) The winner must have 50% of the vote (even if he runs alone).

Victor Yuschenko wrote a lengthy 'opinion editorial' in today's Wall Street Journal. Next to this was a very favorable editorial exposing the evil of Putin and Kuchma.

Yuschenko may still be killed by secret Russian agents, or they may still try to declare martial law and postpone the vote indefinetely, or.....

All Polish churches will have special prayers on Sunday for democracy, fair elections, and the people of Ukraine. I think the Poles have a good idea.

I.F.