Orthodoxy

This document, issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, outlines a call for unity among Christian Churches. It emphasizes the necessity of mutual trust, cooperation, and love among Churches, despite doctrinal differences. The encyclical proposes practical steps for fostering closer relations, including a unified liturgical calendar, theological collaboration, and inter-Church support. It remains a foundational text in the history of the modern ecumenical movement.

Orthodoxy plays a key role in shaping the cultural and spiritual identity of both Ukraine and Russia. While their historical roots trace back to the shared event of the Baptism of Rus in 988, the development of Orthodoxy in the two countries followed different paths. The Ukrainian Church, situated at the crossroads of East Slavic, Byzantine, and Western European cultures, absorbed unique features that distinguish it from the Moscow Church.