You're reading: Patriarch Kirill praises development of theology in Ukraine

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia has praised the actions of the Ukrainian authorities aimed at supporting theology and education in Ukraine.

"I would like to congratulate Ukraine on the decision made by the Higher Attestation Commission of Ukraine in 2010 to include theology on the list of specialties for defending Ph. D and doctoral theses," he said during a meeting with Ukrainian rectors in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"We in Russia are only striving for this and are unable to overcome rudimentary resistance due to ideology," the patriarch said.

Patriarch Kirill also thanked the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for its official creation of the specialty of bachelor and master of confessional theology at universities.

He also stressed the importance of opening churches at universities.

"This is a difficult process, maybe in Ukraine it is easier than in Russia. We have a number of pilot projects, which started with Moscow State University. Only now we can see what a great role university churches play," the patriarch said.