Constantinople and UGCC hierarchs pray for Petliura in Paris
UGCC Bishop Ihor Rantsa and Constantinople hierarch Daniel Zelinsky conducted memorial services at the grave of Symon Petliura, head of the Directorate of the Ukrainian People’s Republic.
On May 25, 2026, commemorative events marking the 100th anniversary of the death of Symon Petliura took place in Paris, according to the website of the UGCC. According to the press service, Bishop Ihor Rantsa of the Paris Eparchy of the UGCC “together with the clergy celebrated a panikhida.” At the same time, Archbishop Daniel (Zelinsky) of the Constantinople Patriarchate was also present at the grave alongside Rantsa.
In a Facebook post, he wrote that he “had the honor of joining the Ukrainian-French community in Paris, France, in honoring the 100th anniversary of the tragic death of Symon Petliura – statesman, patriot, and defender of Ukraine’s freedom and dignity.”
Photographs published by the archbishop show that he also performed a memorial service. Whether he prayed together with the Uniate bishop or conducted a separate panikhida remains unknown. During the service, he and Rantsa stood side by side wearing omophorions.
Among those attending the event were Vadym Omelchenko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to France and Monaco and Permanent Delegate of Ukraine to UNESCO, as well as fighters of the 152nd Separate Brigade named after Symon Petliura and the “Da Vinci Wolves” unit.
As previously reported by the UOJ, an OCU cleric, Dudchenko, stated that his structure could unite with the UGCC once Rome and Constantinople reach an agreement.
