Zelensky invites Patriarch Bartholomew to Ukraine
Zelensky and Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul. Photo: Gordon
On August 13, an official invitation from President Volodymyr Zelensky was extended to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to visit Ukraine, according to the President's Office.
The invitation was conveyed during a visit by an official Ukrainian delegation, led by Deputy Head of the President's Office Olena Kovalska, Head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelensky, as well as OCU leaders Epifaniy Dumenko and Yevstratiy Zoria.
Whether the head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will accept the invitation has not been disclosed by the President's press service.
As previously reported by the UOJ, during his meeting with the Ukrainian officials and OCU representatives, Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his support for President Volodymyr Zelensky's initiatives regarding Ukraine's "spiritual independence".
Read also
Dumenko: Ukrainian Lavra monks have taken control of Near Caves
According to Dumenko, the Lavra is moving toward the “full restoration of this sacred place precisely as a spiritual cell of the OCU.”
Release of Metropolitan Arseniy – result of U.S. pressure, Greek media say
The Greek Orthodox outlet reports that the decisive factor in the hierarch’s case was the stance taken by American Orthodox public and political figures.
Moldova lacks capacity to maintain 800 temples it intends to seize from Church
According to the Minister of Culture, authorities plan to seize 800 churches from the Moldovan Church, but they lack the capability to manage them.
Court returns seized church to UOC community in Ivankiv
The appellate court declared invalid the re-registration of the UOC community of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the town of Ivankiv.
2,800-year-old seal with biblical symbols found in Israel
Israeli archaeologists have found a stone seal from the era of Judean kings with an inscription in ancient Hebrew.
Pope warns clergy against writing AI-based sermons
The head of the Roman Catholic Church warned priests about the risks of using digital technologies in ministry.