Official Meeting Between Ukrainian Greek Catholic and Orthodox Heads Held in Kyiv

The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), and the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan), held an official meeting on August 23, 2011, at the residence of Metropolitan Volodymyr in the Kyiv Cave Monastery, the Information Department of UGCC reported.

Patriarch Sviatoslav greeted Metropolitan Volodymyr on the occasion of his 45th anniversary of ministry as a bishop and the confering of the name of the Hero of Ukraine on him in July 2011. In addition, he thanked the head of the UOC-MP for greeting him on his enthronement and for the presence of a representative of the UOC-MP, Bishop Ilarii, at the enthronement ceremony.

Metropolitan Volodymyr stressed the importance of good relations between the two churches and the development of constructive cooperation for the good of the Ukrainian nation.

The parties discussed issues of practical cooperation between the two denominations of the original Kyiv Church of Volodymyr’s baptism. The issues included, in particular, the area of mass media and education. The parties also stressed on the importance of the church's social ministry in the life of the society.

In conclusion, Patriarch Sviatoslav presented to Metropolitan Volodymyr the first Ukrainian edition of the manuscript Gospel of Anna Yaroslavna of the 11th century. The head of the UOC-MP presented to the guests jubilee panagias and a Ukrainian translation of the Gospel.