PHOTO: SERGIY KHARCHENKO / EAST NEWS UKRAINE President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko attends a public prayer at the front of the Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, December 15, 2018. Unity Council of Ukrainian Orthodox Churches is taking place in Saint Sophia's Cathedral.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, left, greets people gathered to support an independent Ukrainian church near the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Ukraine's Orthodox clerics gather for a meeting Saturday that is expected to form a new, independent Ukrainian church, and Ukrainian authorities have ramped up pressure on priests to support the move. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, left, greets people gathered to support an independent Ukrainian church near the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Ukraine's Orthodox clerics gather for a meeting Saturday that is expected to form a new, independent Ukrainian church, and Ukrainian authorities have ramped up pressure on priests to support the move. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, center, greets people gathered to support independent Ukrainian church near the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Ukraine's Orthodox clerics gather for a meeting Saturday that is expected to form a new, independent Ukrainian church, and Ukrainian authorities have ramped up pressure on priests to support the move. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, center, greets people gathered to support an independent Ukrainian church near the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Ukraine's Orthodox clerics gather for a meeting Saturday that is expected to form a new, independent Ukrainian church, and Ukrainian authorities have ramped up pressure on priests to support the move. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, left, greets people gathered to support independent Ukrainian church near the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Ukraine's Orthodox clerics gather for a meeting Saturday that is expected to form a new, independent Ukrainian church, and Ukrainian authorities have ramped up pressure on priests to support the move. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, left, greets people gathered to support independent Ukrainian church near the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Poroshenko has told the crowd "the creation of our Church is another declaration of Ukraine's independence and you are the main participants of this historic event." (Mykhailo Markiv, Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Pool Photo via AP)

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (C) greets participants of a meeting in Kiev December 15, 2018, outside of St. Sophia cathedral ahead of historic synod expected to establish an Orthodox church independent from Russia. - Ukrainian priests were to meet in Kiev's Saint Sophia Cathedral to work towards founding the church, in what Kiev authorities hope will be a further step out of Russia's orbit. (Photo by Genya SAVILOV / AFP)

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko (C) greets supporters outside Saint Sophia cathedral in Kiev on December 15, 2018 ahead of a historic synod expected to establish an Orthodox church independent from Russia. (Photo by Genya SAVILOV / AFP)

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (C) greets people as he arrives at Saint Sophia cathedral in Kiev on December 15, 2018 ahead of a historic synod expected to establish an Orthodox church independent from Russia. (Photo by Genya SAVILOV / AFP)

This handout picture taken and released by Ukrainian Presidential press-service shows believers and priests taking part in a meeting in Kiev on December 15, 2018, outside of St. Sophia cathedral ahead of historic synod expected to establish an Orthodox church independent from Russia. - A historic council of Orthodox bishops in Kiev created a Ukrainian church independent from Russia, Petro Poroshenko announced on December 15, 2018. (Photo by MYKHAYLO MARKIV / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS-SERVICE/MYKOLA LAZARENKO" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ---

This handout picture taken and released by Ukrainian Presidential press-service shows people greeting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko outside of St. Sophia cathedral ahead of historic synod expected to establish an Orthodox church independent from Russia, on December 15, 2018. - A historic council of Orthodox bishops in Kiev created a Ukrainian church independent from Russia, Petro Poroshenko announced on December 15, 2018. (Photo by MYKOLA LAZARENKO / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS-SERVICE/MYKOLA LAZARENKO" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ---

People take part in a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, on December 15, 2018, outside of St. Sophia cathedral ahead of historic synod held to establish an Orthodox church independent from Russia. - A historic council of Orthodox bishops in Kiev created a Ukrainian church independent from Russia, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced on December 15, 2018. (Photo by Genya SAVILOV / AFP)

A priest take pictures with his mobile phone as he takes part in a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, on December 15, 2018, outside of St. Sophia cathedral ahead of historic synod held to establish an Orthodox church independent from Russia. - A historic council of Orthodox bishops in Kiev created a Ukrainian church independent from Russia, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced on December 15, 2018. (Photo by Genya SAVILOV / AFP)

KIEV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 15: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT - "PRESS OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko greets the people gathering outside the St. Sophia Cathedral as he arrives to attend the unification council of Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kiev, Ukraine on December 15, 2018. On Oct. 11, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church agreed to become independent of the Russian Orthodox Church during a meeting held at Fener Greek Patriarchate in Istanbul. Press Office of the President of Ukraine/Handout / Anadolu Agency/ABACAPRESS.COM

KIEV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 15: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT - "PRESS OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko greets the people gathering outside the St. Sophia Cathedral as he arrives to attend the unification council of Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kiev, Ukraine on December 15, 2018. On Oct. 11, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church agreed to become independent of the Russian Orthodox Church during a meeting held at Fener Greek Patriarchate in Istanbul. Press Office of the President of Ukraine/Handout / Anadolu Agency/ABACAPRESS.COM

KIEV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 15: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT - "PRESS OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko greets the people gathering outside the St. Sophia Cathedral as he arrives to attend the unification council of Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kiev, Ukraine on December 15, 2018. On Oct. 11, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church agreed to become independent of the Russian Orthodox Church during a meeting held at Fener Greek Patriarchate in Istanbul. Press Office of the President of Ukraine/Handout / Anadolu Agency/ABACAPRESS.COM

KIEV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 15: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT - "PRESS OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko greets the people gathering outside the St. Sophia Cathedral as he arrives to attend the unification council of Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kiev, Ukraine on December 15, 2018. On Oct. 11, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church agreed to become independent of the Russian Orthodox Church during a meeting held at Fener Greek Patriarchate in Istanbul. Press Office of the President of Ukraine/Handout / Anadolu Agency/ABACAPRESS.COM

KIEV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 15: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT - "PRESS OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko greets the people gathering outside the St. Sophia Cathedral as he arrives to attend the unification council of Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kiev, Ukraine on December 15, 2018. On Oct. 11, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church agreed to become independent of the Russian Orthodox Church during a meeting held at Fener Greek Patriarchate in Istanbul. Press Office of the President of Ukraine/Handout / Anadolu Agency/ABACAPRESS.COM

KIEV, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 15: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT - "PRESS OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko (R) greets the people gathering outside the St. Sophia Cathedral as he arrives to attend the unification council of Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kiev, Ukraine on December 15, 2018. On Oct. 11, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church agreed to become independent of the Russian Orthodox Church during a meeting held at Fener Greek Patriarchate in Istanbul. Press Office of the President of Ukraine/Handout / Anadolu Agency/ABACAPRESS.COM