PRESIDENT POROSHENKO HELD MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVE OF ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

www.risu.org.ua – July 2016

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President of Ukraine had a meeting with Representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Archbishop Job Getcha of Telmessos.

The Head of State expressed gratitude for the attention of the Mother Church of Constantinople to the issue of single national Orthodox Church in Ukraine, informs Presidents press office. The President drew special attention to the fact that the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople had established a special commission for consideration of the Ukrainian Parliament’s application on the provision of the Tomos of Autocephaly for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The President is hopeful that the commission will not delay its work given the situation in Ukraine.

Poroshenko assured that the Ukrainian authorities are united in their aspiration to have single national Orthodox Church and noted that the given issue is becoming increasingly topical against the backdrop of global challenges.

“We should help the believers implement their aspirations on the single church,” Petro Poroshenko said.

The Honourable Representative of His All-Holiness Bartholomew Archbishop Job of Telmessos conveyed greetings from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the entire Mother Church of Constantinople. He assured that the Ecumenical Patriarch wants to help Ukraine.

The parties discussed the role of state and church in the prevention of the use of the religious factor for destabilization of the situation in Ukraine.

According to the President, the task of the government was not to give opportunities to provoke inter-religious and inter-confessional conflicts and expressed satisfaction with the recent work of the law enforcement bodies.

Petro Poroshenko congratulated the Ecumenical Patriarchate on successful holding of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church. “I think it has approved and strengthened the authority of His All-Holiness in the Orthodox world,” the President said.

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