Patriarch Kirill calls on Orthodox believers to pray for Ukraine

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill called on all Orthodox believers to pray for political stability in Ukraine, his press service said on Tuesday.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill called on all Orthodox believers to pray for political stability in Ukraine, his press service said on Tuesday.

"All devoted children of the Russian Orthodox Church should pray for Ukraine today. Let our common prayer help our brothers and sisters to overcome the trials they faced," the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said.

The patriarch expressed hope that under the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych Ukraine would remain "an important center of Eastern Christianity, open to cooperation with all states, especially with those that share its history and faith."

With 99.95% of ballots counted, Yanukovych has an insurmountable 3.47 percentage point lead over Yulia Tymoshenko, whose camp has signaled they will contest the outcome of the polls.

MOSCOW, February 9 (RIA Novosti)