Head of UGCC Pays Official Visit to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople
On October 25, His Beatitude Sviatoslav met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar in Istanbul, Turkey. The two discussed the situation in Ukraine and agreed on further steps for the ecumenical dialogue.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed his gratitude to His Holiness Bartholomew for the opportunity to meet and for the active dialogue between the UGCC and the Patriarchate of Constantinople over the past decade. “This is the second time I have the honor to pay an official visit to you and to thank you on behalf of all Ukrainians for your blessing and fatherly support. You have often expressed joy over the growth of our Church, and we feel that our mother Church is rejoicing for us,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav. Patriarch Bartholomew responded, “What kind of mother does not rejoice for her children?” The Head of the UGCC emphasized that Patriarch Bartholomew is regarded as a moral authority by Ukrainians, regardless of their religion or denomination.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav also emphasized the significance of the recent Synaxis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (September 1–3, 2024), which condemned the ideology of the “Russian World.” “Thank you for standing with Ukraine personally and as the Patriarchate of Constantinople,” he said. Patriarch Bartholomew expressed appreciation for the UGCC’s support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s synodal decisions and affirmed that “the Mother Church of Constantinople is concerned for her suffering children in Ukraine.”
In their discussion, His Beatitude Sviatoslav presented the Ecumenical Patriarch with the Letter on War and Just Peace in the Context of New Ideologies . He explained the origins of the lethal ideology of the “Russian World” and its threat to Christianity on a global scale, referring to its “genocidal nature” and the atrocities experienced by millions of Ukrainians.
They also discussed Ukraine’s legislative efforts to protect its religious environment from the aggressor state’s militarization of religion.
Bilateral relations between the UGCC and the Patriarchate of Constantinople were a significant focus. The leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation and ecumenical dialogue, especially in the context of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the planned meeting of Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew in Nicaea. This gathering is expected to be one of the most significant events of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025, with the UGCC preparing its own commemorations as well.
Patriarch Bartholomew assured His Beatitude Sviatoslav that he is praying for the “victory of the Ukrainian people” and conveyed his archpastoral blessing.
At the end of the audience, they exchanged gifts. His Beatitude Sviatoslav presented His Holiness Bartholomew with a fragment of a downed drone from the Patriarchal Cathedral in Kyiv, a book containing the UGCC Synod’s message on the war in Ukraine with translations in six languages, and a Polish-language book, Ukraine Stands! Ukraine Fights! Ukraine Prays!, by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, with a foreword written by Patriarch Bartholomew. Patriarch Bartholomew presented the Head of the UGCC with a publication on the current state of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and an electronic edition commemorating the 30th anniversary of his patriarchal ministry.
The audience was attended by Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria, and Bishop Maximos of Aristis. His Beatitude Sviatoslav was accompanied by Rev. Andriy Soletsky, Head of the Secretariat of the UGCC Head in Rome.
Secretariat of the Head of the UGCC in Rome
