Patriarch Bartholomew speaks to Macron about Orthodoxy in Ukraine
Patriarch Bartholomew foresaw violence against the UOC. Photo: Thestival
On April 22, an official meeting was held at the Élysée Palace between French President Emmanuel Macron and a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate led by Patriarch Bartholomew, according to the outlet fosfanariou.gr.
President Macron reportedly expressed special interest in discussing with the Ecumenical Patriarch the developments within the Orthodox Church amid ongoing armed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Macron praised the Patriarch for his unequivocal condemnation of war and for the example he has set as a leading religious figure.
Patriarch Bartholomew offered the French President his blessing for the successful organization and hosting of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris next summer. He also expressed hope that the ancient Olympic principle of a truce would prevail during this historic event.
The Phanar delegation included Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Metropolitan Dimitrios of France, Metropolitan Andreas of Saranta Ekklisies, and Archimandrite Aetios, Director of the Patriarch’s Personal Office.
As previously reported by the UOJ, a court in La Flotte, France, ruled to demolish a statue of the Virgin Mary, stating that the religious display violated the principle of church–state separation.
Read also
OCU: Filaret did not want UOC-KP to exist after his death
The OCU insists that Filaret wanted the Kyiv Patriarchate to cease to exist after his death.
UOC primate blesses vehicles for evacuating the wounded from the front
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry performed the rite of blessing for nine vehicles purchased with donations from faithful in Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
Lawyer warns of planned seizure of UOC Ascension Church in Kyiv
The head of the religious community of the Holy Ascension Church in Demiivka has been unlawfully replaced, according to a lawyer.
UOC bishop comments on situation around Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi
Metropolitan Meletiy said court rulings transferring Bukovyna’s main shrine to the OCU are unlawful.
SBU detains antisemite calling to tear down banners for Jewish holidays
In Zakarpattia, authorities exposed an online agitator who used social media to incite religious hatred.
OCU: Those ordained by Filaret after the Tomos are not bishops
The OCU maintains that hierarchs of the UOC-KP, unlike those aligned with Dumenko, are non-canonical schismatics.