Petro Poroshenko invites Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem to Ukraine

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko

On January 25, a telephone conversation took place between Petro Poroshenko and Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, reports the press service of the Head of State.

It is noted that the conversation was initiated by Patriarch Theophilos. During the telephone talk, the President wished His Beatitude Theophilos health and success in his patriarchal mission.

“The Patriarch of Jerusalem assured that he would pray for the peace and prosperity of Ukraine, as well as for the unification of the Ukrainian Orthodox. The exceptional historical significance of creating a canonical local Orthodox church in Ukraine was noted, which corresponds to the centuries-old aspirations of the Ukrainian people,” the press service stressed.

Poroshenko also invited Patriarch Theophilos III to "carry out a pastoral visit to Ukraine to hold a joint prayer for peace in our country and Europe, as well as to establish a dialogue with the local church of Ukraine."

Earlier, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko was unable to meet with the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who, according to media reports, "was hospitalized and is now in serious condition in Tel Aviv." Instead of the scheduled meeting with the Patriarch, Poroshenko spoke with his deputy, the secretary of the Jerusalem Patriarchate Archbishop Aristarch, through whom he passed all his messages to Patriarch Theophilos III.

As the UOJ reported, on January 22, 2019, the Patriarch of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Theophilos III, received pilgrims of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at his residence.

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