On July 8, 2023, His Excellency President of Ukraine Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the Phanar.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, surrounded by His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, cordially greeted His Excellency, the President of Ukraine.

The prayer service was held in St. George’s Cathedral at the Phanar. Father Methodius, the Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, and Father Epiphanius, the Patriarchal Deacon, served the prayer in both Ukrainian and Greek.

The President thanked His All-Holiness for the unwavering support of Ukraine, prayers for peace, the condemnation of aggression and crimes, and for His-Holiness’ comprehensive aid to Ukrainians, who suffered due to Russia’s war against Ukraine: “I want to thank His All-Holiness. Today is an important day — our struggle has been going on for 500 days — since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. We have the support of His All-Holiness, prayers for our soldiers, for the nation, for our people, for life in Ukraine”, the Head of Ukrainian State said.

For his part, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew noted the importance of achieving peace in Ukraine: “The Ecumenical Patriarchate as the Mother Church of all Orthodox in Ukraine is always on their side”, the Ecumenical Patriarch said. “I want to wish for the return of all POWs and all the children who are now far from their homes”, His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew added.