'We Don't Want Confrontation': Ukraine's Patriarch Filaret On Split With Russian Orthodox Church

Patriarch Filaret, the head of the Kyiv Patriarchate, has welcomed a decision to recognize the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Speaking to reporters on October 11 in Kyiv, Patriarch Filaret said he wanted to avoid confrontation with Moscow after winning approval to split with the Russian Orthodox Church. He said that Ukraine's three Orthodox denominations, including a Moscow-affiliated church, would not be forced to join the unified Ukrainian church.