All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations Meets with President of Ukraine
On April 22, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations to discuss key issues related to supporting Ukrainian society during wartime. Topics included international advocacy for Ukraine, the development of military chaplaincy, demographic challenges, and maintaining communication with Ukrainians living abroad. The meeting took place at the Metropolitan House within the National Conservation Area “Saint Sophia of Kyiv.”
This was reported on the official website of the AUCCRO.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was represented by Bishop Andriy Khimyak, Auxiliary Bishop of the Kyiv Archeparchy, and Fr. Oleksa Petriv, Head of the Department of External Relations of the UGCC in Ukraine. The meeting was also attended by Vice Prime Minister and Minister for National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Olena Kovalska, and Viktor Yelenskyy, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience.
The President extended Easter greetings to representatives of Christian churches and Passover greetings to Jewish leaders. He also thanked clergy of various denominations for their prayers and support for the Ukrainian military and society at large during the war.
During the meeting, President Zelenskyy expressed condolences over the passing of Pope Francis, and commended the Pope and the Vatican for their role in efforts to return Ukrainian children and secure the release of prisoners.
Church leaders expressed gratitude to the President for his service to the nation, and emphasized the need to further develop military chaplaincy within the Armed Forces. They also underlined the importance of strengthening the capacity of clergy to provide spiritual care for Ukrainians forced to live abroad due to Russian aggression. The conversation also touched on the international work of religious organizations and the challenges they encounter.
Among other issues, participants discussed Ukraine’s demographic situation and the need for policies to strengthen family support—specifically, establishing a dedicated government body for family policy and adopting a national family support program.
“Ukrainian families, as an integral part of the Ukrainian people, are bearing the brunt of the war for independence—loss of loved ones, health, homes, family separation, orphanhood, and more. As the cornerstone of society and the natural environment for human life and development, the family urgently needs state support,” said Valeriy Antoniuk, Chairman of the AUCCRO and head of the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists.
Speaking on behalf of the UGCC, Bishop Andriy Khimyak thanked the President for his Easter greeting, which he described as “a word of hope and light.” “I felt it was a message for all churches and religious organizations—because it is the churches that bring this light,” he added.
During the meeting, the President spoke about Ukraine’s position on an unconditional ceasefire. “Ukraine will be the first to end this war. In the coming days, important meetings will be held with the participation of representatives from the United States and Europe,” he said.
The President also expressed appreciation to religious organizations for their international advocacy on behalf of Ukraine—helping to promote a just and lasting peace, to share the truth about the war and the courage of the Ukrainian people, and to highlight the true situation regarding freedom of conscience in Ukraine.
He noted that the establishment of the Ministry of National Unity was aimed at helping displaced Ukrainians stay connected to their homeland. In this context, “unity hubs” are being launched abroad to provide support to Ukrainian communities.
The UGCC Department for Information
