The Head of the Phanar Will Mark the 35th Anniversary of Ukraine's Independence with a Festive Liturgy

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople will take part in a solemn Divine Liturgy dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s declaration of independence, which will take place on August 24, 2026. The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople will lead the service at the Church of St. Nicholas in Çibali, Istanbul. This was reported by Orthodox Times.

As part of his visit, the patriarch is scheduled to arrive at the church around 10:00 a.m. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in Ukrainian, underscoring the special support for the Ukrainian community in Istanbul, whose representatives have been invited to join in prayer on this momentous day.

Following the festive service, Patriarch Bartholomew will conduct a memorial service for the victims of the war in Ukraine. The commemorative events will conclude with an official reception organized to mark the national holiday.

It should be recalled that earlier, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon , a hierarch of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, noted that the Phanar has no intention of revising its decisions regarding the legalization of the OCU and the granting of the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Ukrainian schismatics.