“We chose the European direction of our course and for this choice we are paying a heavy price”, said Epifanios
THE Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew welcomed, today, in Fanari, the Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Epiphanius. His Holiness, in his short speech in the Throne Room, once again expressed the support of the Mother Church to the severely tested Ukrainian people, again condemning the ongoing war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
“Your presence among us is permanent, mentally, through prayer, which unites us, but we are very happy when we also have your physical presence, even for a while, from time to time, in our holy Center. This time you came to us from Old Rome, here in New Rome. We are glad that you had the opportunity to inform His Holiness Pope Francis first hand about what is happening in Ukraine. We hope that after the briefing you gave to the Vatican, you personally and the other representatives of the religious communities of Ukraine, Pope Francis will have a clearer stance towards the war in Ukraine. And putting political and diplomatic balances aside, he will be closer to you and will influence in favor of Ukraine many Roman Catholic countries, to which his word passes. The Ecumenical Patriarchate and we personally were very natural from the beginning to condemn the unjust, unjustified and diabolical war started by the Russian Federation against Ukraine”.
The Patriarch recalled that during his recent speech at an international conference in Abu Dhabi, but also in a message he sent, two days ago, at a conference held in Athens, regarding the situation in Ukraine, he again strongly condemned the war.
Referring to the humanitarian aid sent by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to Ukraine, His Holiness said that what was offered is little compared to what the people of Ukraine need and what they deserve.
“Whatever we and the whole world do for your trying country will be little. It’s been eleven months since the war began and during this time, almost a year, the whole world admires your courage, your bravery, your fighting spirit.”
He made special reference to the care received by Mother Church for the spiritual strengthening of the Ukrainian Orthodox living in the City, for whom, as he said, the Patriarchate made sure to appoint a permanent Ukrainian priest in order to serve their religious needs. He even underlined the good cooperation with the acting ambassador of Ukraine in Ankara, Vasyl Bodnar, and consul general in the city, Roman Nedilskyi, for the support of Ukrainians living in Turkey. He also referred to the recent visit of the former President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, to Epiphany, on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the granting of the Volume of Autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
“We assure you of our closeness to you and of our readiness to do our best to alleviate your pain and the anguish that your people are living,” the Patriarch emphasized and added: “Tomorrow when you return, God willing , in Kyiv, Your Beatitude, please convey to Mr. President, His Excellency Mr. Zelensky, his associates, and all your faithful, the blessing of the Mother Church, our love, our affection, our support. Christ in our midst and victory with you.”
For his part, His Beatitude expressed his joy at once again visiting the Center of Orthodoxy, as well as his gratitude to the Ecumenical Patriarch for his multifaceted support to the Ukrainian people during this difficult period of war.
“Today Ukraine is going through a difficult test stage. We have chosen the European direction of our course and for this choice we are paying a heavy price. Every day not only our soldiers are killed, but also ordinary citizens and children. Yesterday we were attacked by Russia, and in Kyiv and other cities, with victims of ordinary citizens. The enemy is terrorizing Ukraine. Because it is not successful on the front it destroys our infrastructure. That is why millions of Ukrainian citizens are today without electricity, without water, which are essential for their lives. Nevertheless, we remain united. And we say that we can endure without electricity and water, because we will do everything for our victory. And we are sure of our victory. I always say that morally we have already won. Because from the beginning of the invasion even our friends didn’t think we could last. Some said three days, one week, at most three weeks Ukraine will last. But we fight, and we know that truth and good always win. That is why we will win and then there will be a just peace in Ukraine. Thank you for your support. We feel, especially in this period, the support of the Mother Church, and we thank you that from the first day you expressed it, and said clearly that this war is not holy but diabolical”.
Subsequently, His Holiness and His Beatitude had a meeting of their own, attended by Metropolitan Geron Chalkidonos Emmanuel, on behalf of the Mother Church, and Archbishop Chernivtsi and Nizhny Efstratios, from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, as well as M. Ecclesiarch Aetios, director of the Special Patriarchal Office.
Earlier in the morning, the Ecumenical Patriarch attended the Divine Liturgy, on the feast of the collection of the Holy Relics of Saint John Chrysostom, during which Epiphanios, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, officiated from the Parathrone.
Photo: Nikos Papachristou / Ecumenical Patriarchate
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