President Petro Poroshenko invited Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to visit Ukraine.
President Petro Poroshenko invited Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to visit Ukraine.
"Your All-Holiness, many thanks to you. I want to emphasize, we are waiting for you in Ukraine. And we look forward to welcome you," Petro Poroshenko appealed to the Ecumenical Patriarch after the solemn ceremony of signing the Tomos of Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine by His All-Holiness.
"Again, I would like to express the words of great gratitude on behalf of the Ukrainian people, on behalf of our nation to Your All-Holiness for the great work that you have done. And among the fifteen stars of autocephalous Orthodox churches, a Ukrainian star has now appeared. This is very important," he said.
The Head of State added that Ukrainians have been waiting for years for a prayer in Ukrainian to be heard in this temple of St. George, where the ceremony of signing the Tomos took place today.
"We have been working on this for a very long time. I congratulate everyone, dear Ukrainians. This is a historic event. This is a great day. And today I am confident that it will remain forever in history," Petro Poroshenko emphasized.
The Ecumenical Patriarch thanked President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko for his faith and prayer for the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
“We greet the honorable presence among us at this sacred moment of the head of Ukraine, His Excellency Mr. Petro Poroshenko, who so greatly desired to see this great and glorious day, expressing his innermost yearning, prayer and petition of his people to enjoy their freedom and independence,” the Ecumenical Patriarch noted.
“We express the gratitude, commendation and blessing of the Mother Church to all of You. This Church of the City of Constantine will always be at Your side—hoping, praying and working for Your growth and progress in Christ, as well as for the stability of the newly-planted Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Ukraine. Christ is in our midst,” the Ecumenical Patriarch concluded.