Klimkin to hold talks with Patriarch Theophilos III in Israel

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavel Klimkin

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will participate in the Eleventh Meeting of the Joint Ukrainian-Israeli Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Jerusalem, reports the press-service of the MIA of Ukraine.

"Within the framework of the visit of the Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, meetings with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III are planned," the press service writes.

Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin is actively lobbying President Petro Poroshenko's initiatives to create a Single Local Church in Ukraine. Klimkin held relevant negotiations with representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora of Canada and Vatican.

Earlier, Pavel Klimkin called on all Ukrainian faiths to help create a Single Local Church.

In mid-April, Poroshenko turned to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople with a request to grant Tomos on autocephaly of the Church in Ukraine and announced the creation of the Single Local Church. The Verkhovna Rada supported the petition of the President. The Kiev Patriarchate has already announced that they see their leader Filaret, anathematized by the canonical Church, as the SLC head.

Read also

Shevchuk tells Budanov of UGCC’s “state-building role”

The head of the Uniates told the head of the Presidential Office that his Church was ready to partner with the state and presented him with a book on the work of special services in the Church.

Authorities decline to disclose Ukraine’s population size

The State Statistics Service acknowledged that it has up-to-date population estimates for the country, but has decided not to make them public.

Lithuanian govt vows to protect Orthodox Church from Russian intelligence

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has called for curbing the influence of Russian intelligence services on the Church, while an adviser to President Nausėda warned against labeling the entire structure a security threat.

During Ramadan, Patriarch Theodoros hosts Islamic iftar at his residence

Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria hosted a meal for Muslim workers breaking their fast in the courtyard of the Patriarchate and thanked a sheikh for his “brotherhood.”

Lawsuit filed against Patriarch of Constantinople

A Turkish official has accused Patriarch Bartholomew and dozens of clergy of “illegal activity” and violating the Treaty of Lausanne.

OCU cleric buried with Church Slavonic funeral shroud

In the Ternopil Eparchy of the OCU, a cleric was buried under a funeral shroud bearing inscriptions in Church Slavonic.