Ecumenical Meeting on Agenda for Ukraine Visit

VATICAN CITY, MAY 17, 2001 (Zenit.org).- During his Ukraine trip John Paul II will not have a private meeting with Orthodox Metropolitan Archbishop Vladimir of Kiev, out of deference to the Moscow Patriarchate.

Details of the trip, published by the Vatican today, apparently take into account the three schisms that divide the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

To avoid complications, the Pontiff will meet with the Pan-Ukrainian Council of the Churches and Religious Organizations in the Palace of the National Philharmonic of Kiev.

Among the most symbolic moments of the visit are two beatification ceremonies of 27 Ukrainians, some of them Greek-Catholics, martyrs of Communism and Nazism. The Pope will also have a special meeting with the country´s youth.

With this visit the Pope will enter an ethnic-cultural area that Russians consider flesh of their flesh.

The weight of the Ukrainian Church in Russian Orthodoxy is enormous. Ten years ago, there were more than 150,000 Orthodox parishes in Ukraine (only about 6,000 remained in Russia), 8,000 of which have emancipated from Moscow´s jurisdiction.

The principal schism of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine was led by Metropolitan Filaret of Kiev, who was Moscow Patriarch Alexy II´s main opponent in the Holy Synod.

Filaret was excommunicated by the Moscow patriarch and reduced to the lay state. In response, Filaret proclaimed himself patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. At the same time, he has tried, with some success, to become the principal speaker of the Ukrainian political leaders.

Moreover, hundreds of parishes have adhered to the "autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church." This current is inspired in the "Orthodoxy of the catacombs," which never accepted Soviet dictates.

This Church maintains organizational centers abroad. It recognizes as its "spiritual guide" Metropolitan Konstantin, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United States, discreetly supported by the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Following is the official program of the papal visit to Ukraine, published by the Vatican Press Office.

ITALY

Saturday, June 23, 2001 Fiumicino (Rome)

8:30 a.m. Departure from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport of Fiumicino (Rome) for Kiev.

UKRAINE

Kiev
12:30 p.m. Arrival at Boryspil International Airport of Kiev. Welcome ceremony at Boryspil International Airport of Kiev.

Address by the Holy Father.

5:55 p.m. Arrival at the Presidential Palace "Mariyinskyi" of Kiev.

6:00 p.m. Courtesy visit to the president of Ukraine in the Blue Room of the Presidential Palace "Mariyinskyi" of Kiev.

6:30 p.m. Meeting with representatives of the world of politics, culture, science and business in the White Room of the Presidential Palace "Mariyinskyi" of Kiev. Address by the Holy Father.

Sunday, June 24, 2001

9:00 a.m. Arrival at Chayka Airport of Kiev.

9:30 a.m. Holy Mass in Latin at Chayka Airport of Kiev. Homily by the Holy Father. Prayer of the "Angelus Domini" at Chayka Airport of Kiev. Words by the Holy Father.

12:45 p.m. Arrival at the Apostolic Nunciature of Kiev.

1:00 p.m. Meeting with members of the Ukrainian Catholic Episcopate at the Apostolic Nunciature of Kiev. Address by the Holy Father.

5:15 p.m. Arrival at the Palace of the National Philharmonic of Kiev. Meeting with representatives of the Pan-Ukrainian Council of the Churches and Religious Organizations in the Foyer of the Palace of the National Philharmonic of Kiev. Address by the Holy Father.

Monday, June 25, 2001

7:30 a.m. Holy Mass in private at the Apostolic Nunciature of Kiev.

9:30 a.m. Arrival at Chayka Airport of Kiev.

10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy in Byzantine rite at Chayka Airport of Kiev. Homily by the Holy Father.

4:30 p.m. Farewell from the Apostolic Nunciature of Kiev.

5:45 p.m. Arrival at Boryspil International Airport of Kiev.

6:00 p.m. Departure in airplane from Boryspil International Airport of Kiev for Lviv.

Lviv

7:15 p.m. Arrival at Lviv International Airport.

Tuesday, June 26, 2001

9:00 a.m. Arrival at the Hippodrome on Stryiska Road in Lviv.

9:30 a.m. Holy Mass in Latin rite with beatifications at the Hippodrome on Stryiska Road in Lviv. Homily by the Holy Father.

Bryukhovychi

1:00 p.m. Arrival at St. Joseph´s Latin-rite Major Seminary of Bryukhovychi.

1:15 p.m. Lunch with the Catholic Bishops of Ukraine at St. Joseph´s Latin rite Major Seminary of Bryukhovychi.

Sykhiv

6:30 p.m. Arrival at the Esplanade of Sykhiv. Youth meeting in front of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the Esplanade of Sykhiv. Address by the Holy Father.

Wednesday, June 27, 2001 Lviv

7:30 a.m. Mass in private at St. George´s Archdiocesan Palace in Lviv.

9:30 a.m. Arrival at the Hippodrome on Stryiska Road in Lviv.

10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy in Byzantine rite with beatifications at the Hippodrome on Stryiska Road in Lviv. Homily by the Holy Father.

1:15 p.m. Arrival at St. George´s Archdiocesan Palace of Lviv.

1:30 p.m. Lunch with the Catholic Bishops of Ukraine at St. George´s Archdiocesan Palace of Lviv.

5:30 p.m. Farewell from St. George´s Archdiocesan Palace of Lviv.

6:10 p.m. Arrival at Lviv International Airport.

6:15 p.m. Farewell ceremony at Lviv International Airport. Address by the Holy Father.

7:00 p.m. Departure by airplane from Lviv International Airport for Rome.

ITALY

Ciampino (Rome)

9:00 p.m. Arrival at Ciampino Airport (Rome).