By Emilios Polygenis
Today, Monday, February 4, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with the official Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which arrived in Kiev on the occasion of the enthronement of Metropolitan Epiphanius.
The Ukrainian President welcomed and thanked the Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for its participation in a historic event both for the church history and all the Ukrainian people.
“I would like to send my warm regards and thanks to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for this event. This was made possible thanks to his great love for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” said President Poroshenko.
The President of Ukraine also referred to the granting of the Tomos of Autocephaly, which was made possible thanks to the efforts made by the Exarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate all that time.
For his part, Metropolitan Emmanuel of France assured the President of Ukraine of the continued support to the new Church by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
“His All Holiness proceeded to the issue of the assignment of Autocephaly, because the people of Ukraine asked for it. You are the first Ukrainian citizen to undertake this difficult task, but a great opportunity too at the same time,” added the Metropolitan of France.
The Metropolitan of France added that Elder Alexios also participated in the Delegation of the Xenophontos Monastery, stressing that “the historical document of the Tomos of Autocephaly was painted in this monastery.”
The Ukrainian President thanked Abbot of the Xenophontos Monastery Elder Alexios and expressed the hope that in the near future he would visit the Mount Athos and Xenophontos Monastery.