Patriarch Bartholomew: Very happy to receive President Poroshenko at Phanar
Patriarch Bartholomew and Poroshenko during a meeting. Photo: ec-patr.org
On January 6, 2023, Patriarch Bartholomew received "President Poroshenko" at Phanar, congratulated Ukrainians on the Nativity of Christ and called on them to unite around the OCU. The congratulation was published in the telegram channel of the Verkhovna Rada.
“We are very happy; it is an honor for us to host our good friends here, President Petro Poroshenko. We cooperated together to grant a new status to the OCU. We achieved success in this respect and now we are praying for the unification of all Orthodox believers in the country around the OCU – this is the only possible solution. We are praying for the end of this unjust war and aggression day and night, for the Ukrainian people, strong and brave, who dared to defend the integrity and freedom of Ukraine. We are with you through love and prayer. We are glad to see that the international community is also with you. Justice and truth always win,” said Patriarch Bartholomew.
“I congratulate Ukrainian believers on Christmas. We show unity with your believers in the name of freedom and stability in Ukraine,” he added.
As the UOJ previously reported, Zelenskyy congratulated the head of the Phanar on Christmas.
Read also
Macedonian Orthodox Delegation Makes Historic Visit to Valaam Monastery
For the first time since receiving autocephaly, hierarchs of the Macedonian Orthodox Church concelebrate Divine Liturgy at Russia’s Valaam Monastery, honoring the late Archimandrite Methodius.
Barbara Larin Visits Abp. Elpidophoros in New York
The recently laicized Larin is scheduled to give a talk on Wednesday at Fordham University, titled, "Reclaiming 'Orthodoxy': Clarifying Our Ecclesial Vocabulary."
Vatican Theme for Pope Leo’s Trip to Turkey: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
Roman pontiff and Pat. Bartholomew to mark 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea.
Bishops of OCA's Romanian Episcopate Celebrate Feast of St. Olga of Alaska at Transfiguration Monastery
Faithful venerate relics of Alaska’s wonderworking saint at monastery founded by Princess Ileana of Romania.
In Greece, Religious Weddings Have Decreased by More than Half in 30 Years
The Statistics Department of Greece notes that the decline in weddings reflects profound changes in society and fuels controversy over same-sex marriage.
Pat. Bartholomew and Pat. Daniel Consecrate Iconography of Romania’s National Cathedral
Person shouts "anathema" from the crowd as Bartholomew commemorates the schismatic Dumenko despite the Romanian church not recognizing the OCU.