Media: Meeting of Poroshenko with Patriarch of Jerusalem cancelled
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko
Though Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko intended to meet with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem during his working visit to Israel, the meeting was cancelled, reports RIA-Novosti referring to a source close to the Ukrainian delegation.
“The meeting with the Patriarch will not take place due to Theophilos III’s health,” the source reported.
The meeting was scheduled for 3:00 PM and was to include a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Poroshenko has met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin earlier today. During the visit, it is planned to sign a free trade agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the State of Israel. The Ukrainian President will return to Ukraine late tonight.
The Jerusalem Church is reported to be under serious pressure to accept the schismatics from the OCU and concelebrate with them.
We recall that Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem said earlier that the Jerusalem Church constantly offers prayers for Ukraine and His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry, whom he considers "the most suitable person for the difficult situation in which the Ukrainian people are today".
Read also
In Khmelnytsky Oblast, the TCC abducted the rector of the community in Sutkovtsi
Archpriest Volodymyr Stefanyshyn is already at the training ground.
Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.
UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials
Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.
Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action
An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.
European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan
The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.
Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region
The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.