Delegation of Ecumenical Patriarchate visits Head of UGCC
On August 23, 2024, a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate led by Archbishop Ilarion of Winnipeg, Metropolitan of the UOC of Canada, visited the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ of the UGCC in Kyiv and met with the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The delegation, which arrived in Ukraine on the occasion of the 33 rd anniversary of independence on behalf of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, also included Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, Patriarchal Deacon Epiphanius and the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Ukraine, Bishop Michael of Comana.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav warmly greeted the representatives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, calling their visit historic. “We congratulate you, Bishops, on this Independence Day of Ukraine with a special mission from His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew. I would like to express my filial gratitude to His Holiness for the respect for our Church and the relations we have built with him and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, especially over the past decade,” said the Head of the UGCC.
Metropolitan Job of Pisidia noted that His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew sent them to Ukraine at the invitation of the President on the occasion of the 33 rd anniversary of independence to serve and help in this difficult time of war. “The purpose of our visit is also to promote understanding, peace and unity of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew has repeatedly asked us to visit you, Your Beatitude, to convey his love and fraternal greetings. We are glad that we were able to meet and exchange views as we work to fulfill the Lord’s prayer: ‘That all may be one,’ the Metropolitan said.
After a short prayer in the Patriarchal Cathedral, the delegation visited the undeground of the church, which has served as a shelter for Kyivans since the beginning of the full-scale war, and prayed in the crypt for the repose of the servant of God Lubomyr Husar. His Beatitude Sviatoslav also showed the guests the premises of the Patriarchal Curia, which during the war became a hub of social service, as well as the new Synodal Hall.
During the private meeting, which was held in an atmosphere of warmth and brotherly love, the parties discussed important matters of interchurch dialogue at the global and local levels, church-state relations in Ukraine, the role of the church in Ukrainian society, and others. His Beatitude Sviatoslav highlighted the main challenges faced by the Churches in Ukraine during the war. He pointed out the need to fight first of all for the temples of human souls and expressed fears about secularization after the war. The head of the UGCC also noted the important role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in fostering the ability to engage in dialogue between Christians.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav also thanked Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for supporting the call for the exchange of prisoners “all for all.” “It is our moral duty to alleviate the suffering of those who remain in captivity,” the Primate emphasized.
The meeting was a focal point in strengthening relations between the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and its mother church, the Patriarchate of Constantinople. In conclusion, the parties exchanged gifts and expressed hope for further strengthening of relations and collaborative work to achieve unity among Christians around the world.
The UGCC Department for Information
