US State Dept official discusses Ukraine's religious liberty with Phanar Exarch

Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Riley M. Barnes and the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Exarch in Ukraine, Bishop Michael (Anishchenko) of Comana. Photo: Facebook

The Stavropegion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Kyiv was visited by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Riley M. Barnes. During the visit, issues of religious freedom and the humanitarian situation amid the war were discussed, according to a post on the Facebook page “Stavropegion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine”.

The American official was received by the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Exarch in Ukraine, Bishop Michael (Anishchenko) of Comana. He gave the guest an introductory tour of the stavropegial church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, presenting the history of the Stavropegion, its present-day ministry, and its spiritual and cultural activity in Ukraine.

In the course of the conversation, the sides discussed humanitarian issues, the situation of religious communities in the context of the military conflict, and the need for international support to protect human rights and freedom of conscience.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate presented the Assistant Secretary with publications of the Stavropegion, including a New Testament in Ukrainian in a modern translation.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, in an exclusive comment to UOJ, Anna Paulina Luna promised to hold Ukrainian officials, who are allegedly involved in seizures of UOC churches, accountable.

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