Yurash: The Pope being commemorated frst at Phanar outraged “Russian World”

Andriy Yurash. Photo: Andriy Yurash's Facebook page

On December 1, 2025, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Vatican, Andriy Yurash, commented on the ceremonial events and liturgical services in Turkey involving Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew.

According to him, the most important outcome of the visit was “the signing by the Pope and Patriarch Bartholomew of a joint declaration containing an appeal for a ‘bold step on the path to unity,’ that is, a return to full communion between the Eastern and Western parts of the Church.”

The ambassador paid particular attention to the reaction within Orthodoxy to the events in Turkey. He believes that this reaction speaks in favor of Ukraine.

“A storm of emotions among the adherents of the ‘Russian world’ and all ultraconservatives was triggered by the fact that during the mentioned doxology, the name of Pope Leo was commemorated first, before the name of Patriarch Bartholomew, and the two church leaders stood together on the solea on either side of the Royal Doors. Whenever the ‘Russian world’ goes into hysterics, it means something good is happening for the entire Christian world and for Ukraine in particular,” wrote Andriy Yurash.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that during the moleben at the Phanar, Pope Leo was commemorated before Patriarch Bartholomew.

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