Petro Poroshenko thanked Patriarch Bartholomew for the Tomos and for recognizing the Ukrainian schism

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko extended his congratulations to Patriarch Bartholomew on the 35th anniversary of his election to the throne of Constantinople. The politician noted the “invaluable support” the patriarch has provided to the Ukrainian people during the military conflict, as well as his historic role in granting the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

According to the Orthodoxia News Agency, in his message, Poroshenko emphasized that the Patriarch’s decision to grant the Tomos was a “great blessing for millions of Ukrainian believers” and a restoration of historical justice that the people had awaited for centuries.

In his message, the former president also highlighted the principled stance of the head of the Church of Constantinople regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Poroshenko noted that the head of the Phanar "has repeatedly condemned the war, calling it ‘an evil in which there is nothing human,’ and continues to pray tirelessly for peace on Ukrainian soil, for the country’s defenders, and for all those affected by the hostilities, as well as providing care for refugees.”

Concluding his message, Petro Poroshenko wished Patriarch Bartholomew good health, strength, and a long life in his work for the benefit of Universal Orthodoxy, emphasizing that Ukrainian believers always feel the primate’s prayerful support.

As a reminder, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople previously stated that granting autocephaly to the OCU was an exclusively ecclesiastical act, the purpose of which was to restore the unity of Orthodox believers in the country. The head of the Phanar emphasized that this decision is consistent with the long-standing practice of the Patriarchate of Constantinople of granting autocephaly to young Local Churches that were previously under its jurisdiction.