The Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine delivered a summary of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to Ukraine. During the four days of His All-Holiness’s stay in Kyiv, the two primates honored the memory of Ukraine’s latest fallen heroes and met with the children of Ukrainian warriors who sacrificed their lives defending their country. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Dsnys Shmyhal, and Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov.
“We continue to fight for our state, and the struggle for the establishment of an independent Ukrainian Church continues. We have a great goal – to unite all Orthodox Ukrainians around the Kyiv throne,” the head of the OCU said, commenting on the recent events.
“Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has inspired us. Previously, we had only one wing – an independent Ukrainian state, but now, thanks to the firm unwavering support of His All-Holiness, we have a full and strong other wing – an independent Church. With these two wings, we can take off and reach new heights,” he added.
According to Metropolitan Epifaniy, the joint celebration climaxed in the Divine Liturgy in St. Sophia of Kyiv, where the two primates alongside 15,000 Ukrainians united around the Lord’s Supper, partook of the Life-giving Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ, and offered prayers for Ukraine and for a fair peace.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s Independence, Metropolitan Epifaniy and Patriarch Bartholomew took part in state celebrations. After the parade, Patriarch Bartholomew proclaimed the following important words: “Ukraine is invincible.”
“I believe Ukraine will continue to develop and strengthen, we will regain Crimea and the occupied part of Donbas and restore territorial integrity of our Homeland… The Church was, is, and remains the spiritual foundation of the Ukrainian state, and if the Church is strong, the state will stand on a strong, powerful foundation. We thank Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for this historic visit and sincerely wish that the Lord will give His All-Holiness strength and health to work for many years to come for the benefit of world Orthodoxy and for all people in the world,” said Metropolitan Epifaniy.
He also thanked the hundreds and thousands of those who helped in various ways to make the visit a success. “It is difficult to name them all, but the Lord knows them all by name and their contribution. Therefore, from the bottom of my heart, I wish that God gives each of you a hundredfold for your good deeds!”
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