News

Poroshenko, Patriarch Bartholomew sign cooperation agreement

Kiev, November 3, Interfax - President Pyotr Porosnenko and Patriarch Bartholomew signed an agreement on cooperation between Ukraine and the Patriarchate of Constantinople after a meeting in Istanbul on November 3, the Ukrainian president's press service told Interfax on Saturday.

The agreement forms conditions for "the granting of the [autocephaly] Tomos to proceed absolutely in strict accordance with the canons of the Orthodox Church," Poroshenko said at the meeting.

He called the day historical and thanked the patriarch for the warm "meeting filled with wisdom."

"I am sure the autocephaly decision will lead to the unity and unification of all Orthodox believers in Ukraine," Patriarch Bartholomew said after signing the document.

"I pray to God so that I visit you wonderful country again in the very near future," he said.

The agreement stipulates cooperation in creating an independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine, the president's press service told Interfax.

Under the document, the Ecumenical Patriarch shall grant a Tomos recognizing the independence of the Ukrainian church and hands it over to the leader elected at Sobor (assembly); the Ukrainian state will provide assistance with these processes.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate will set up a mission (effectively an embassy) in Kiev to represent its interests and foster relations between the Ukrainian Church and the Orthodox world.

These decisions are another step to receiving the Tomos whose grant is explicitly stipulated in the agreement, the press service said.

Now Ukrainian bishops are to gather for the assembly and elect the leader.

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• New church of Ukraine in contact with SBU, but doesn't coordinate actions – Filaret 21 January 2019, 12:39
• Group of Ukrainian parliamentarians challenges constitutionality of law obliging Ukrainian Orthodox Church to change its name 21 January 2019, 12:06
• Patriarch of Antioch says opposes actions aimed at dividing Orthodox 18 January 2019, 14:34
• Most valuables not missing from Kiev-Pechersk Lavra - deputy minister 18 January 2019, 14:32
• Putin invited to Belgrade to attend consecration of Cathedral of Saint Sava 18 January 2019, 14:15
• Church takeovers leitmotif of Ukrainian presidential campaign - Russian Orthodox Church 18 January 2019, 14:07
• Enthronement of Yepifaniy to be held on Feb 3 18 January 2019, 12:16
• Russia to return page of ancient Gospel to Serbia, Belgrade to return Roerich's pictures to Russia – Putin 18 January 2019, 12:13
• Ukraine's Opposition Bloc to appeal bill on subordination of religious communities to Constitutional Court 17 January 2019, 17:31
• Ukrainian law on joining new church makes seizing churches easier - Ukrainian Orthodox Church 17 January 2019, 17:24
• Rada passes bill on transition of communities from one church to another 17 January 2019, 17:12
• Attempts are being made to divide Antioch Church - al-Assad 17 January 2019, 15:02
• Georgian Church to voice stance on Ukrainian autocephaly, govt not interfering - FM 16 January 2019, 18:58
• Metropolitan of Zaporozhye accuses Ukraine of attempt to 'drag God by his beard' 16 January 2019, 16:11
• Ukraine wants to re-register Kiev-Pechersk Lavra or take it away from UOC of Moscow Patriarchate - Metropolitan Pavel 16 January 2019, 16:03
• Putin describes establishment of new church in Ukraine as 'dangerous politicking' (updated) 16 January 2019, 13:43
• Inter-confessional accord in Ukraine sacrificed to Poroshenko's campaign - Putin 16 January 2019, 11:15
• Poroshenko guarantees protection to those who remain faithful to Moscow Patriarchate 15 January 2019, 16:50
• Homeless man detained on suspicion of setting fire to building at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra 15 January 2019, 14:25
• Fire at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra's building contained to area of 400 sq m 14 January 2019, 21:02
• Kiev-Pechersk Lavra's 2-storey building on fire 14 January 2019, 19:06
• Rights activists report detention of 40 LGBT in Chechnya, Grozny official says it's 'absolute lie' 14 January 2019, 15:13
• Poroshenko decorates 2 metropolitans who joined new church from UOC with Order of Prince Yaroslav Mudry 14 January 2019, 13:41
• Media review: "Metropolitan Hilarion: Russian Orthodox Church was born in Kiev, not in Moscow or St. Petersburg" 14 January 2019, 12:14
• The Ukrainian Orthodox Church compared Ukraine's new church to "Titanic" 11 January 2019, 18:52
• Georgian president doesn't hurry to congratulate Ukraine on granting autocephaly 11 January 2019, 18:47
• Culture Minister's statement on icons missing from Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is provocation - Ukrainian Orthodox Church 11 January 2019, 17:35
• Georgian Church needs time to decide on recognizing Ukraine's autocephaly 10 January 2019, 14:39
• Tomos returns from Istanbul to Ukraine 10 January 2019, 14:34
• If Georgia recognizes Ukraine's autocephaly, Russia to recognize Abkhaz Church's independence - Burjanadze 09 January 2019, 18:55

Other news