A delegation from the OCU, during their visit to the Phanar, presented Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with a gift from Metropolitan Epifaniy – an enkolpion (a pectoral icon) depicting Saint Nicholas.
Metropolitan Yevstratiy (Zorya) shared this story on his Facebook page.
"While preparing for the visit, we did not know that our meeting with the Patriarch would be a joint one with the Bulgarian delegation. However, when presenting the gift, I saw symbolism in the fact that the Bulgarian delegation was led by Metropolitan Nikolai, who bears the same name as the saint depicted on the enkolpion," the hierarch noted.
According to Metropolitan Yevstratiy, Patriarch Bartholomew gratefully accepted the gift, emphasizing that it was a very valuable material expression of the inseparable bond of love and respect between the Primates, the Church of Ukraine, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, between the Daughter Church and the Mother Church.
"But," the Patriarch continued, "I would like to hand this gift over to Metropolitan Nikolai as a sign of the spiritual unity that the two Local Churches, the Bulgarian and the Ukrainian, have with their Mother - the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople."
Metropolitan Nikolai accepted this gift and wore this enkolpion during the joint Liturgy on the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women, which was led by Patriarch Bartholomew and attended by hierarchs from three Churches, noted Metropolitan Yevstratiy.
"May Saint Nicholas continue to bless this good deed and be its prayerful intercessor for success," wished Metropolitan Epifaniy.