UKRAINE TODAY IS A COUNTRY OF INTERFAITH PEACE AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE VISIT OF ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW - ANDRIY YERMAK AT A MEETING WITH METROPOLITAN EMMANUEL OF CHALCEDON

                           

 The Presidential Office of Ukraine.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak met with Bishop of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon.

Andriy Yermak stressed that today all denominations feel free and independent in Ukraine.

"Volodymyr  Zelenskyy is a President who does not use the church for political purposes," he said.

The Head of the Office of the President noted that the war in Donbas has been going on in Ukraine for the eighth year, and almost every day the state leadership, unfortunately, receives information about the wounded and killed. Therefore, the main priority of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his team remains to end the war and return the temporarily occupied territories and people.

Andriy Yermak thanked Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Ecumenical Patriarchate for their support of Ukraine, especially in these difficult times.

He stressed that the whole country is looking forward to the visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and his participation in the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, and conveyed greetings from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Andriy Yermak assured that the state would do everything to ensure the highest level of the visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to Ukraine. 

For his part, Metropolitan Emmanuel expressed confidence that the expected visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Ukraine in August will be prepared and will take place in the best possible way.

He noted the openness and support of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which was confirmed by the visit of the Head of State and the First Lady to the Mother Church and the meeting with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in October 2020.

Metropolitan Emmanuel stressed that the Orthodox Church of Constantinople prays for the end of the war in Donbas and peace in Ukraine, as well as for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine and around the world.