Muslims of Ukraine welcome the independence of the Orthodox Church

Safwan Gulaq-Kiev

Not all holidays have passed on Ukraine today, religion has mixed with politics, and spiritual feelings of faith with national feelings, unusually.

The holiday of Independence comes two days after a historic event in the country, known locally as "Tomus." The official document of independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church officially means the Russian Patriarchate, after some 332 years of dependency, and the recognition of the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople.

According to various comments and statements, this independence was widely welcomed in Ukraine, where churches began to declare allegiance to the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by Bishop Epivani.

Catholic churches, synagogues and Islamic institutions quickly joined the convoy of welcome, which found in the event a "religious independence" that Russia had to do.

"Independence of the Church is a historic event and a major step towards the development not only of the internationally recognized independent Orthodox Church, but also of the development and consolidation of an independent Ukrainian state," said Sheikh Said Ismailov, the mufti of the Religious Administration of Ukraine's Muslims.

True independence
In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, the Mufti of the Muslims of Ukraine explained that "the Ukrainian nation got one of the strongest factors that guarantee and protect the true independence of Ukraine." In reference to the dependence of about 35 million people in Ukraine to Orthodoxy, or about 70% of the total population.

Ismailov added that the Muslims of Ukraine, along with other citizens, welcome and support everything that serves the national interests of the country, protects its freedom and meets the aspirations of its people.

The Muslims of Ukraine link the importance of this event with the importance of the subsequent dialogue and cooperation in the interest of all Ukrainians.

In this context, the Mufti of the Muslims of Ukraine expressed his hope to promote dialogue between religions and fruitful cooperation between Christians and Muslims after the independence of the Church, and the desire to cooperate for the happy future of Ukraine, guarantees the preservation of religious freedom in them.

He says that the basis of this dialogue is national interests, and many commonalities between the two religions, especially in the field of spiritual and moral values.

Campaign "Love Christ"
On the eve of Christmas, according to the Orthodox doctrine, a group of young Muslims in the capital city of Kiev organized a campaign in the Independence Square in the center of the capital, entitled "I love Christ because I am a Muslim."

The campaign was greeted with remarkable welcome by passers-by, and some of them took photos with the organizers and thanked them, according to the preacher Tareq Sarhan of Al Jazeera Net.

Sarhan pointed out that the campaign - which aims to introduce Islam through the discussion and distribution of publications - took another dimension, and highlighted the love and mutual respect between most Muslims and Ukrainian Christians.

He pointed out to the turnout to participate in the campaign by Muslims and Christians also, and to embrace and expressions of congratulations for independence between Muslims and Christians.

The young activist Anastasia Orlova, the daughter of Christian parents, converted to Islam for a while. She went on her own initiative to go beyond that campaign. She posted a picture of her on Facebook from inside a church celebrating Eid and independence.

"It is exciting to see this wonderful event for Ukraine, Ukraine's strength in unity and mutual respect among its people," Orlova wrote on Facebook.