.png "English"){kind=small}
Press service of the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the UOC (OCU)
His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphaniy, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, met with the US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo
31 Січня 2020
Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Epiphaniy met with
the US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo during his visit in Kyiv on
January 31, 2020. The meeting was held at the site of St. Michael’s
Golden-Domed Monastery, which is the administrative center of the OCU.
It was proceeded by a joint ceremony of laying flowers at the Memory
Wall, honoring the memory of the fallen defenders of Ukraine.
The Primate told the guest about the establishment of the Orthodox
Church of Ukraine, interaction with society and the state, as well as
the extension of the international relations of the OCU.
Particular attention was paid to the challenges for the Orthodox
Church of Ukraine, specifically erin the territories temporarily
occupied by Russia in the Donbas and the Crimea. Russia, as de facto
responsible for the situation in its occupied territories, must adhere
to international standards on freedom of religion and creed, in
particular to stop the persecution and systematic restriction of the
rights of the clergy and communities of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
The Primate expressed his gratitude to the American side for the firm
and reliable support of Ukraine both in the context of counteracting
external challenges that our country continues to encounter, as well as
on the path of state formation and democratic reforms.
Metropolitan Epiphaniy called for continuous support and enhanced
sanctioning of Russia until complete termination of human rights abuses
in the occupied territories, release of them from occupation and
restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, its sovereignty within
internationally recognized borders.
Other topics were discussed and further support for bilateral
contacts was agreed, especially in the area of protection of freedom of
conscience and religion.
In the meeting the OCU was also represented by the Metropolitan of
Lviv Dymytriy (Rudyuk), Head of Donators Board of the Metropolitan’s
Foundation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine – Andriy Matsola, Legal
Advisors of His Beatitude – Andriy Romanchuk and Maryan Martynyuk. The
USA delegation included: Charge d`Affaires a.i. Kristina Kvien, Acting
Assistant Secretary Phillip Reeker, Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus and
Senior Advisor Mary Kissel.
After the meeting, the Secretary of State, accompanied by Metropolitan Epiphaniy, visited St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral.
It should be reminded that Metropolitan Epiphaniy and Secretary of
State Pompeo met in Washington, DC, last October during the official
visit of His Beatitude to the United States.
