MOSCOW, July 27 (RIA Novosti) - Patriarch...

Protesters are holding flags and slogans saying: "An independent church to Ukraine!", and "Out with the Moscow colonist priest!"

However, 2,000 supporters flocked to the St. Vladimir statue to welcome Kirill, a RIA correspondent reported. Their banners read: "Let us preserve the 1,000-year-old unity of our Church!" and "Kiev is the mother of Russian cities."

Police are separating protesters and supporters after a clash between a group of nationalists and kossacks.

The visit will be the longest foreign trip so far by Patriarch Kirill, who was elected to replace the late Alexy II in February.