The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill, has denied rumors that he came to Ukraine in order to stifle the power of Metropolitan Vladimir, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

"It has been said that the patriarch has come to Ukraine in order to limit the rights and powers of the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," Kirill said, adding: "This is not why the patriarch has come to Ukraine. [He has come] so as together with the head of the Ukrainian Church, together with the bishops of our Church, with Ukrainians, Russians, Moldovans, with people from all ethnic groups to witness the Crucifixion of Christ and His Rising."

Kirill made the statement after a festive liturgy in Kiev's Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Kiev Monastery of the Caves. Wednesday was Kirill's final day on his trip to Ukraine that started last week.

The Orthodox Church in Ukraine split in the 1990s following the breakup of the Soviet Union into followers of the Moscow Patriarchate and those seeking an independent church. The Ukrainian Church of the Moscow Patriarchate is recognized by the Orthodox Church worldwide, while the other churches not included in the Moscow Patriarchate are not.

KIEV, July 28 (RIA Novosti)