Phanar delegation arrives in Ukraine 'to achieve unity on church issue'

On August 21, 2024, a delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople arrived in Ukraine. The purpose of the visit is called “search for ways of mutual understanding between the Orthodox of Ukraine and dialog to achieve unity in the church issue”. This is reported on the page of the Stavropigia of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine in the social network Facebook.

It is reported that the delegation included: the Archbishop of Winnipeg, Metropolitan Hilarion of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Metropolitan Job of Pisidia and Patriarchal Deacon Epiphany Kamenevich. The arrival of the delegation in the same composition was planned as early as last year, but due to unpredictable technical reasons its visit was postponed.

“The delegation will take part in the celebrations on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence and will meet with government officials and churchmen. Special attention will be paid to finding ways of mutual understanding between the Orthodox of Ukraine and dialog to achieve unity in the Church issue. On August 21, immediately after arriving in Kyiv, members of the delegation visited the Stavropigia of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine – St. Andrew’s Church, where they served a short prayer service for the victory of Ukraine, the courageous Ukrainian people and church peace in Ukraine,”  – the report said.

We will remind, earlier deprived of dignity former cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill Govorun commented on the future of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church after the legislative ban. Hovorun believes that the UOC, whose representatives are not ready to unite with the OCU, can establish communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.