Ukraine and Greece to Sign Memorandum on Religious and Educational Cooperation

On June 18, a memorandum of understanding will be signed at the Metropolitan House within the National Reserve “St. Sophia of Kyiv” between the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (SSEFC) and the Secretariat for Religious Affairs of the Hellenic Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports. This was reported by RISU.

The agreement outlines bilateral cooperation in areas such as academic exchanges for students and faculty, Greek language courses at Ukrainian theological academies, scholarship provision, and supplying libraries with theological literature. Plans also include the introduction of military and medical chaplaincy programs, spiritual-psychological rehabilitation, and organization of summer camps for children and wellness retreats for chaplains and military personnel.

The memorandum further encompasses interchurch dialogue and academic collaboration through joint conferences, seminars, summer schools, and forums. Institutional partnerships will be promoted with theological faculties at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and other bodies of the Church of Greece.

A Joint Coordinating Committee will be established to implement the memorandum.

Expected attendees include:

Viktor Yelensky – Chairman of the State Service of Ukraine on Ethno-politics and Freedom of Conscience (SSEFC).

Tetiana Kotlyarova – representative of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Bohdan Movchan – representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Vakin – rector of the Volyn Orthodox Theological Academy OCU.

Konstantin Marchenko – Vicar of the Zhidychyn St. Nicholas Monastery of the OCU.

Yaroslav Romanchuk – Rector of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy.

Oleksandr Trofimlyuk – Head of the Department of Spiritual Education and Theological Science of the OCU.

Bohdana Drofyak – Head of the Educational Department of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy.

Stepan Mahsma – Chairman of the “Federation of Greek Societies of Ukraine”.

From the side of the Hellenic Republic:

Georgios Kalantzis – Secretary General for Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports of Greece.

Pantelis Alexandros Dimitrakopoulos – Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Ukraine.

Emmanouil Androulakis – Deputy Head of Diplomatic Mission of the Embassy of Greece in Ukraine.

It is also worth noting that on May 30, 2025, the Council of State of Greece ruled that civil marriages between same-sex couples, as well as their right to adopt children, do not contradict the Constitution — upholding the legality of Law No. 5089/2024 adopted in February 2024. The decision passed by a vote of 21 to 6.