Zelensky confirms that he urged Phanar to grant patriarchate status to OCU
Zelensky with the Phanar delegation. Photo: Office of the President
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he urged the Patriarchate of Constantinople to elevate the status of the OCU to that of a patriarchate, reports LB. He mentioned this to journalists, noting that the request was made at the end of August during a meeting with delegates of Patriarch Bartholomew who visited Kyiv.
"I said that our people, Ukrainians, would understand if our status was raised to a patriarchate. The exarchs received the information and will convey it to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for consultation," Zelensky stated.
According to him, the representatives of the Constantinople Patriarch already have an action plan on this matter, but the final decision will be discussed with Patriarch Bartholomew. The President added that the exarchs are in contact with Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, and are expected to return with specific proposals.
As reported by the UOJ, during an earlier meeting with the head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Bartholomew, on July 8, 2023, President Zelensky demanded that the OCU be granted the status of a patriarchate.
Read also
Dumenko "blesses" SBU facility for forensic examination
The head of the OCU noted the "special role" of the Institute of Special Technology and Forensic Expertise of the SBU.
ROC head: Attempts to impose special powers of Pat. Bartholomew are sinful
Patriarch Kirill stated that the doctrine of special powers of the Patriarch of Constantinople is being imposed from outside.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces LGBT festival near Sodom and Gomorrah
Israeli authorities are promoting a large-scale gay event at the Dead Sea on social media, which has caused criticism and bewilderment among Christians.
In Bila Tserkva, man nearly killed for greeting "Christ is risen!"
Two non-Orthodox individuals aged 19 and 23 tracked down a 35-year-old Orthodox Christian after an Easter greeting, knocked him down and inflicted several knife wounds to his abdomen and neck.
In Uganda, Islamists kill Protestant pastor after sermon
In Uganda, a Protestant church pastor who preached among Muslims was stabbed to death after a sermon.
Spanish court rules Jehovah’s Witnesses may be called a “destructive sect”
A court in Spain has upheld the right of critics of Jehovah’s Witnesses to speak openly about the group’s alleged harmfulness and danger to society.