Patriarch Theophilos announces visits to Kyiv and Moscow in bid for peace

Patriarch Theophilos III. Photo: Getty Images

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III is preparing visits to Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. The Primate of the Church of Jerusalem told Breitbart News that he is working to arrange meetings in the near future, hoping for constructive dialogue aimed at achieving peace, including within Orthodoxy.

The Patriarch stressed the strictly spiritual nature of his ministry. “My role is not political. Rather, as a religious leader, it is to keep the channels of communication open and remind those in power of the virtues of dialogue, love, and peacemaking.”

The Jerusalem Primate expressed deep sorrow over the military conflict between two Orthodox peoples. “We are called to live in harmony with one another, and we lament any disunity among Orthodox churches. St Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12:21, ‘The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ 'If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.’ Through this war, the church suffers,” the Patriarch quoted the Apostle Paul as saying.

According to the Primate, the path to reconciliation requires patience. “I do not believe reconciliation and peace can happen overnight, but we must begin the process. Let us start with the basics. Those in power must be willing actively to listen to one another. But equally critically we must listen to the voices of the families, children, and communities who are suffering.”

Earlier in Washington, Patriarch Theophilos III met with U.S. President Donald Trump. The two discussed preserving the Christian presence in the Middle East. During the meeting, Donald Trump endorsed the Patriarch’s initiative to mediate efforts to end the war in Ukraine. “I was deeply moved to receive President Trump’s support in June for me to serve as a mediator to help resolve this conflict,” the Patriarch said.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel described Patriarch Theophilos’ peace initiatives as “kindergarten.”

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