"With the transfer of the Tomos, there has formally been ensured the establishment of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Local Church," -- Chairman of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy
Fielding the receipt of Tomos, Chairman Andriy Parubiy observed that this is an act of spiritual independence of the Ukrainian church and the point of completion of a very long path, which Ukrainians have been treading for hundreds of years.
"In recent years, our generation has given everything for this day to come," said he in his Istanbul interview to the mass media representatives. - Today, with the transfer of Tomos, the establishment of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Local Church has in fact been approved officially".
The head of parliament noted there lots of work have remained in Ukraine to do so that to enable all Ukrainians to unite into the newly-established single Orthodox Church: "It is necessary to legally create cleared conditions for the process of unification to go smoothly, without conflicts and any misunderstanding, and, at the same time, to give those who want to join in the Ukrainian church an opportunity to do so without hindrance, easily and freely".
A.Parubiy tabbed it to be "very important and symbolic that the great historic event has taken place on the eve of Christmas".
"I am confident that Ukrainians, sitting down for their Christmas Dinner tonight…round their festive boards…Ukraine-wide - from east to west, from north to south - will rejoice at the great good news that we have finally gained our local Ukrainian Orthodox Church," said the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and congratulated everyone on the upcoming Christmas holiday.