Ukraine Orthodox Church granted independence from Russian Church

The recently formed Orthodox Church of Ukraine has officially grained independence, severing its relationship to the Russian Church that it had been tied to for more than 330 years.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, signed the “Tomos” in Istanbul Saturday in front of clerics and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, formalizing a split that has angered Moscow amid a broader poliitical conflict between Ukraine and Russia, NPR reported.

“The pious Ukrainian people have awaited this blessed day for seven entire centuries,” Bartholomew I said in his address.

The ceremony formalized an October announcement to undo a connection that began in 1686.

Poroshenko thanked Bartholomew I “for the courage to make this historic decision” and said that “among the 15 stars of the Orthodox churches of the world a Ukrainian star has appeared,” referring to the updated number of churches that don’t answer to an external authority.

Metropolitan Epiphanius I, who was elected last month by Ukrainian Orthodox leaders to head the new church, will take the decree to Kiev.

Criticism continued Saturday when a spokesman for the Russia-affiliated church in Ukraine, Vasily Anisimov, said, “We consider these actions to be anti-canonical ... This action will not bring anything to Ukraine except trouble, separation and sin,” according to Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti.

Rancor between Ukraine and Russia grew after Moscow’s seizure of Crimea in 2014.

Reuters reported that Ukraine imposed martial law in November, citing the threat of a full-scale invasion after Russia captured three of its vessels in the Kerch Strait.

Constantinople holds sway over more than 300 million Orthodox Christians across the world, the BBC reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.