Patriarch Neophyte Received Ambassador of Ukraine Olesya Ilashchuk

OCP News Service – 21/10/2023

Sofia-Bulgaria: His Holiness Neophyte – Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia received Her Excellency  Olesya Ilashchuk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Bulgaria in Sofia Metropolis on 18 October 2023. The meeting was also attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe, Teodor Atanasov, Head of the Office of the Bulgarian Patriarch and Angel Mladenov, Secretary of the Holy Metropolis of Sofia.

According to the Patriarchate, Ambassador Olesya Ilashchuk expressed gratitude to the Holy Patriarch and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church for their unwavering support of refugees escaping conflict. Olesya Ilashchuk also expressed her joy at the joint initiative of the Metropolitan of Belgium and Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Athenagoras and Metropolitan Antony for the repair and restoration of the Ukrainian Church “Protection of the Holy Virgin” near the city of Brussels.

Metropolitan Antony highlighted the BOC’s consistent response to assist those in distress, providing both material and spiritual support. He shared various initiatives undertaken by dioceses, including Sofia, to aid Ukrainians affected by the ongoing conflict, emphasizing that the Church continues to fervently pray for peace in Ukraine and stands in solidarity with its people during these trying times.

His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte extended his best wishes to Ambassador Olesya Ilashchuk for a successful tenure in Bulgaria, productive endeavors, and peace for Ukraine and its people.

Source:
OCP News Service