The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church—Kyiv Patriarchate established the "Orthodox Order of St. Vladimir the Great, Equal to the Apostles" in Greece

On July 12, 2026, Nikodim Kobzar, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, officially established the “Orthodox Order of St. Vladimir the Great, Equal to the Apostles” in the Hellenic Republic. This decision is aimed at “strengthening the spiritual mission of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate on the international stage.”

According to the leader of the UOC-KP, the key objectives of the newly established organization are “the development of Orthodox traditions, the promotion of Christian values, and the preservation of the historical heritage of the baptizer of Kievan Rus’.” The Order’s activities in Greece will contribute to the church’s deeper integration into the European spiritual space.

According to the decree, Dr. Nikolaos Bogonikolos has been appointed head and coordinator of the Order. Spiritual oversight of the organization’s activities will be provided by Hierarch Iakov (Yannakis) of the UOC-KP.

As a reminder, we previously reported that the Orthodox parish of Christ the Savior, located in the city of Denia (Alicante province, Spain), has been officially accepted into the UOC-KP. The corresponding decision was adopted on May 7, 2026.