UKRAINIAN AUTOCEPHALY IS A FAIT ACCOMPLI, - ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH CONGRATULATES METROPOLITAN EPIFANY ON THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE OCU

 

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has congratulated Metropolitan Epifaniy on the bicentennial of the Unification Council in Kyiv, the election of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the approval of its charter.

This was reported by the spokesperson of the OCU Archbishop Yevstratiy (Zorya).

"I congratulate you, my blessed brother, on the significant church work done in such a short time, on the excellent management of church affairs, on cooperation with the authorities for the benefit of the entire Ukrainian people, as well as on initiatives and actions during the dangerous pandemic, to counter its social consequences and comfort the faithful," the Patriarch said.

Patriarch Bartholomew notes that thanks to the contribution of Metropolitan Epipfaniy "to the functioning of the ecclesial life of Ukraine and his sincere interest in the unity of Orthodoxy," the OCU autocephaly was recognized by several other local churches.
"Ukrainian autocephaly is a fait accompli that cannot be changed. Refuting this truth is sought by other people's interests, which "lead to no good", but the inevitable filling of the Danaid barrel," the greeting message reads.

"We are looking forward to the joy of meeting your Beatitude in Kyiv in 2021 during our visit to Ukraine on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the declaration of independence, at the kind invitation of His Excellency President Volodymyr Zelensky. We had the opportunity to receive His Excellency the President at the Phanar and discuss current issues in an atmosphere of excellent cooperation. We were also very pleased with the recent presence of His Excellency the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mr. Denys Shmyhal, at the patronal feast of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, after which we could exchange views in a sincere and fruitful atmosphere," the Ecumenical Patriarch stressed.

 Religious Information Service of Ukraine