Ukraine is thankful to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the decision to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. "I am very grateful to His All-Holiness on behalf of the Ukrainian people.
I am very grateful to the Synod, to all the hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for an extremely important and wise decision to open the doors of the Church and the way to God for the Ukrainian nation," Petro Poroshenko said after the meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew and signing the Agreement on the creation of an independent Ukrainian Church.
The President reminded that the beginning of the final stage of the provision of the Tomos to Ukraine was his meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew in the spring of this year. "Immediately after Easter, on April 9, we met with His All-Holiness in this room and agreed that we are entering the final stage in the provision of autocephaly to Ukraine and the creation of an autocephalous Orthodox Church," he stated.
"A lot has been done. It was my appeal to His All-Holiness, which was supported by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, regional councils, a large number of Ukrainians," the Head of State added.
He also noted that an appeal to His All-Holiness regarding the decision to provide the Tomos was supported by all bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and some bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate. "They made a request for the adoption of the long-awaited decision on autocephaly by the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Ukrainians have been waiting for this for 1030 years," the President said.
The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed conviction that the decision on autocephaly would lead to the unity of all Orthodox in Ukraine, as they have been in separation for 30 years already.
"The new autocephalous Church will unite all the Orthodox believers in Ukraine. And this new church will enter the family of Orthodox churches. And we will all work together for the good of our believers and for the glory of God's name," he said.
Patriarch Bartholomew thanked President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and the Ukrainian delegation for the visit.
He also thanked for the decision to transfer the St Andrew's Church to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the permanent representation of the Mother Church in the capital of Ukraine.
"I pray to the Lord that in the near future I will visit your beautiful and hospitable country once again," His All-Holiness noted.
The Ecumenical Patriarch also conveyed blessings to the Ukrainian people through the President of Ukraine as the elected representative of the Ukrainian people.