Metropolitan Moisey, Primate of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church - Canonical Gives Support for Yushchenko

Addressing hierarchs, clergy and faithful on November 19, 2004, Metropolitan Moisey, head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church-Canonical, called them to vote "according to conscience, not out of fear." But as a citizen of Ukraine, the Metropolitan expressed his personal position in support of presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko.

"Tomorrow," wrote Metropolitan Moisey, "you and your children are to live in the state you vote for today. Vote so that you do not feel shame and pain tomorrow, for you and your relatives will be paying for this choice. As a citizen of Ukraine, I am free to express my decision on what and for whom I will personally vote.

"I will vote for the future good, and for the person who lives as a sincere Christian with God in his heart, for the good of Ukraine. For me this person is clearly Viktor Yushchenko, to whom I can entrust the future of our long-suffering country, Ukraine, to which the Lord is offering his helpful hand today. But it is your free choice: to believe and to reach out your hand to God," the address reads.

Father Myles Ivan
Administrator in the USA for Metropolitan Moisey