Patriarch says church split aggravates Ukrainian problems.

DONETSK, July 31 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Patriarch Kirill said on
Thursday the politically-motivated split in Ukrainian Orthodox Church
impedes the development of the country and is a reason for existing
problems.

"Where split exists, there blood oozes, energy is lost, unity is
divided, fractions replace integrity, and ability to reach the goals faced
by the people and the state is lost. People become incapable of uniting
around political slogans and political programs," he said.
"There can be no public, national and political ideals, for the sake
of which it can be allowed to divide what God has united. The (church)
split cannot be justified by any arguments, any human wisdom or human
ideals. The split is a violation of the words of God on the unity of his
heritage," the patriarch said in mostly Russian-speaking Ukrainian region.
"Not a single human dream, not a single political idea, not a single
national idea has been implemented in 2000 years of Christianity by
dividing the body of Christ," Kirill said.
Addressing coal miners in the town of Gorlovka the patriarch said the
current "crisis is the result of sin that penetrated modern economy".
"People of honest labor are paying for those who gained millions and
billions from air. We are all paying for fraud, for illicit gains, for
loss of human face in economic relations," Kirill said.
He recalled the hardships of early '90s, which the country succeeded
to live through. "I am convinced we shall overcome them this time as
well," he said and called "Preserve the Orthodox faith".
Kirill completes his stay in Donetsk on Friday and leaves for Crimea,
where Russian-speakers also dominate.