Zelensky meets with Phanar delegation

Meeting of the Phanar delegation with the President of Ukraine. Photo: Facebook

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with a delegation from the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which included Metropolitan Ilarion of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and Archbishop of Winnipeg, Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, Patriarchal Deacon Epiphanios, and the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Ukraine, Bishop Michael. Also present at the meeting were Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, and Deputy Head of the President's Office, Olena Kovalska. The President shared details of the meeting on his official social media pages.

During the meeting, Zelensky expressed his gratitude for the prayers supporting Ukraine and its people, stressing the importance of overcoming the challenges facing the Church in Ukraine.

"It is clear that these challenges are not new, nor have they arisen overnight. We, on our part, will do everything to ensure stability and peace in this area. This is very important for us," added Volodymyr Zelensky.

Representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate assured that the Church and Patriarch Bartholomew will continue to pray for Ukraine and support it.

"So that a just peace reigns on Ukrainian soil. And so that peace also reigns in Ukrainian Orthodoxy. Our mission here is to bear witness to love and support. And that we are with you, that we will cooperate on all these issues for the good of the Ukrainian people," said Archbishop Ilarion.

As previously reported by the Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ), the Ukrainian delegation earlier informed the head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate that there are no closed churches in the country.

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