ALBANY, NY:  In late December 2008, Governor David Paterson of New York issued a Citation acknowledging the role of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) in both Ukraine and New York. The UAOC is the third largest Orthodox Church in Ukraine and officially recognized by the Ukrainian government.

Gov. Paterson praised His Beatitude, Metropolitan Mefodiy of Kyiv and all Ukraine, the recognized worldwide primate of the UAOC, for committing himself to secular and religious liberty in Ukraine. The Citation also acknowledges the work and leadership of His Eminence, Metropolitan Mykhayil (Javchak), Archbishop of New York, and all the faithful in New York State.

The Citation reads, in part, "New Yorkers have historically shared a broad consensus of religiously-inspired values and an enduring belief in religious freedom and all freedoms upon which America is founded . . . it is fitting that we join to applaud the contributions of the UAOC both in Ukraine and New York State in promoting democracy and religious freedom, Now Therefore, I, David A. Paterson,Governor of the State of New York, do hereby cite . . . the establishment of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church [while] its faithful members invoke the Mother of God (Pokrova) for the protection and perpetuation of the Church in the Ukrainian homeland and throughout the world."

The Citation was issued by the Governor and given to Bishop Paul Peter (Jesep) who serves as Metropolitan Mefodiy's designated spokesman and government relations liaison in the United States.

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See also:
uaoc.net