'We want unity and are open to constructive dialogue based on the Tomos': Primate of the OCU at Phanar
According to the press service of the OCU, the Primate of the Local Church is accompanied by several officials, including the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar, the Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Rivne and Ostroh, along with other clergy members.
On January 4, 2026, the delegation was welcomed at Istanbul Airport by official representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Ukrainian diplomats, led by Consul General in Istanbul Roman Nedilsky. On the same day, with the blessing of Patriarch Bartholomew, a meeting and dinner were held at the Metropolis of Chalcedon, located in the Kadikoy district of Istanbul, Turkey. This event was organized by Metropolitan Elder Emmanuel of Chalcedon.
On January 5, 2026, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, along with hierarchs and clergy from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), visited the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Phanar, Istanbul, Turkey. During their time at the Patriarchal Church of St. George, Metropolitan Epifaniy and the members of his delegation honored the relics and participated in the Great Blessing of Water, offering their prayers.
An official meeting was held at the Patriarchal Residence between His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Elder Emmanuel of Chalcedon, along with other representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as Metropolitans Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar, Hilarion of Rivne and Ostroh, and members of the OCU delegation.
During the meeting, Metropolitan Epifaniy expressed gratitude on behalf of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the historic decision made seven years ago by him and the Mother Church of Christ in Constantinople to grant the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Church in Ukraine.
"Together with our brothers, we gather on the seventh anniversary of the historic events that took place here at Phanar. We wish to express our Church's gratitude to the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, through prayer, worship, and fellowship. We aim to reaffirm our spiritual and prayerful unity and to ask the Lord, in this sacred center of Orthodoxy, during the great feast of the Epiphany, for the triumph of truth and the establishment of just peace for Ukraine. Additionally, we reiterate our desire to establish church unity in Ukraine and our sincere openness to constructive dialogue based on the Tomos of Autocephaly," stated the Primate of the OCU in his speech.
"We are delighted to welcome Your Beatitude and the brothers at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. We are especially pleased by your visit during this historic occasion, particularly at a time when the future of peace for Ukraine is being determined. We assure you that our decision to grant the Tomos of autocephaly was, is, and will remain firm and unchanging. This decision reflects the canonical order and is our response to the numerous requests from your clergy, people, and state. We welcome Your Beatitude and look forward to jointly giving thanks to God during the Liturgy on Epiphany tomorrow," said Patriarch Bartholomew.
On the occasion of the visit, Metropolitan Epifaniy presented Patriarch Bartholomew with commemorative gifts on behalf of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).
Today, January 6, 2026, Metropolitan Epifaniy and members of the delegation will concelebrate the Liturgy with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Phanar, Istanbul, Turkey, and will participate in the rite of the Great Blessing of Water.
