Ukraine’s State Leaders Greet Patriarch Filaret on His Name Day

On the occasion of the name day of the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate, Patriarch Filaret, Ukraine’s president and prime minister greeted him on December 14, 2009.

KYIV — On the occasion of the name day of the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate, Patriarch Filaret, Ukraine’s president and prime minister greeted him on December 14, 2009.

According to the presidential press service , President Viktor Yushchenko expressed his respect for the patriarch as “an adherent of inter-Orthodox unity and consistent supporter of the establishment of one national Orthodox church.” “…I appreciate your firm patriotic and state-supporting position,” added Yushchenko.

According to the press service of the Kyivan Patriarchate, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko personally visited Patriarch Filaret. As she greeted him she noted that she felt a deep respect for the work in the spiritual revival of the Ukrainian nation carried out by the hierarch.

The head of the Kyivan Patriarchate and the prime minister held a brief conversation and touched upon questions of social life and the dialogue between the Orthodox Churches.