UGCC Head Meets with Egyptian Ambassador to Ukraine
On January 8, 2025, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Egypt to Ukraine, Barakat Elleithy, who was accompanied by Counselor Hosam Nooreldin. The meeting took place at the residence of the Head of the Church in Kyiv at the Ambassador’s request.
Ambassador Barakat Elleithy stated that upon arriving in Ukraine, he considered it his duty to visit the country’s religious leaders to better understand the life of the Ukrainian people and the realities of the ongoing war.
During the meeting, the ambassador expressed interest in the history of the Church, noting the UGCC’s significant role in Ukraine’s religious and social life. “Your Church has played a tremendous role in shaping the identity of the Ukrainian people. Without it, modern identity—including national, social, and state identity—of Ukraine is impossible,” he remarked.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked the ambassador for his interest and high regard for the history and current state of the UGCC. He then provided an overview of the modern period of the UGCC’s history, including its persecution, emergence from the underground, and the restoration of its structures in Ukraine.
The ambassador noted that he perceives the UGCC as “not just a regional Church but a nationwide Church.” He also inquired about its global dimension. “The UGCC is perhaps the only Church in Ukraine that serves as a binding element, an intermediary between the global Ukrainian community, Ukrainian communities abroad, and those in Ukraine,” he observed.
Much of the meeting was devoted to discussing the causes and challenges of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Ambassador Barakat Elleithy emphasized the importance of hearing Ukrainians’ perspectives on achieving a just peace: “Today, when everyone is seeking a just peace for Ukraine, it is very important to listen to the voice of Ukrainians, particularly religious leaders, to understand what and how they envision a just peace in Ukraine.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav referred to the message of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC in Ukraine on war and just peace, providing a brief overview of its content.
The Egyptian ambassador expressed gratitude for the comprehensive analysis of the situation, stating, “We cannot discuss a just peace and the end of the war unless we understand and address the causes that led to it. This is the only way to achieve a just peace.”
Mr. Elleithy shared that Egypt, too, has endured wars and violent confrontations but has emerged as a stable state. He emphasized that Egypt’s experiences and Ukraine’s current struggle underscore the importance of cooperation, diplomatic relations, and shaping Egypt’s stance in the international arena.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides exchanged gifts. Mr. Elleithy, a Christian of the Coptic tradition, presented His Beatitude Sviatoslav with an Egyptian papyrus featuring a handmade icon of the Last Supper. In turn, the Head of the UGCC presented the ambassador with a translation of the Synodal message on war and just peace and a presentation edition about the UGCC.
Both parties expressed hope for further bilateral meetings to continue reflecting and analyzing together, ensuring that Egyptian society and authorities are well-informed about the developments in Ukraine.
The UGCC Department for Information
