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"Your All-Holiness, many thanks to you. I want to emphasize, we are
waiting for you in Ukraine. And we look forward to welcome you," Petro
Poroshenko appealed to the Ecumenical Patriarch after the solemn
ceremony of signing the Tomos of Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of
Ukraine by His All-Holiness.
"Again, I would like to express the words of great gratitude on
behalf of the Ukrainian people, on behalf of our nation to Your
All-Holiness for the great work that you have done. And among the
fifteen stars of autocephalous Orthodox churches, a Ukrainian star has
now appeared. This is very important," he said.
The Head of State added that Ukrainians have been waiting for years
for a prayer in Ukrainian to be heard in this temple of St. George,
where the ceremony of signing the Tomos took place today.
"We have been working on this for a very long time. I congratulate
everyone, dear Ukrainians. This is a historic event. This is a great
day. And today I am confident that it will remain forever in history,"
Petro Poroshenko emphasized.
The Ecumenical Patriarch thanked President of Ukraine Petro
Poroshenko for his faith and prayer for the Autocephalous Orthodox
Church of Ukraine.
“We greet the honorable presence among us at this sacred moment of
the head of Ukraine, His Excellency Mr. Petro Poroshenko, who so greatly
desired to see this great and glorious day, expressing his innermost
yearning, prayer and petition of his people to enjoy their freedom and
independence,” the Ecumenical Patriarch noted.
“We express the gratitude, commendation and blessing of the Mother
Church to all of You. This Church of the City of Constantine will always
be at Your side—hoping, praying and working for Your growth and
progress in Christ, as well as for the stability of the newly-planted
Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Ukraine. Christ is in our midst,” the
Ecumenical Patriarch concluded.
