The head of the Russian Orthodox Church on Thursday blessed the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych in an unusual demonstration of the new Ukrainian leader's close ties with Russia.
Yanukovych invited Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia to the inauguration ceremony, triggering criticism from the rival Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchate, which seeks to end the Moscow patriarchy's control of the church in the country.
Speaking after the prayer at the Kiev Laura, Kirill said Yanukovych would serve Ukraine by helping it "overcome political, historical, cultural and religious discords," and by rebuilding traditional ties with fellow Slavic neighbors.
Kirill appealed to the memory of the Kievan Rus - a medieval Slavonic kingdom seen as the precursor to the modern Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian states.
He also said the three Slavic nations, "parts of a single Holy Rus," must be tied by bonds of friendship, peace and cooperation.
"The Lord wanted the seeds sown here on Kiev's hills to grow into a giant tree of East European Orthodox civilization," the patriarch said.
Yanukovych, who attended the prayer before being sworn in at a ceremony in parliament, thanked the patriarch for the prayer and blessing.
"I am positive the Ukrainian people will overcome all difficulties in their way, all challenges God has sent to us. We will overcome them and emerge unified," he said.
Yanukovych, the first Ukrainian president not to win half the vote, took the oath in a half empty hall of the Supreme Rada at a ceremony boycotted by his rival Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and her bloc, who have contested the election and refused to recognize him as president.
Yanukovych, who narrowly won the February 7 runoff with 48.95% of the vote against Tymoshenko's 45.47%, faces a struggling economy and deep political divisions. Yanukovych enjoys support in the mainly Russian-speaking eastern regions, with Tymoshenko being popular in the country's west.
His inauguration is the culmination of a remarkable comeback after his victory over Viktor Yushchenko in 2004 was overturned amid fraud accusations by the pro-Western "orange revolution" protests led by his Yushchenko and Tymoshenko.
Yanukovych, 59, is expected to restore ties with Russia strained under his predecessor, Yushchenko.
KIEV/MOSCOW, February 25 (RIA Novosti)
