Phanar hierarch meets with Ukrainian Foreign Minister
The representative of Constantinople discussed with Dmitry Kuleba issues of church-state relations in Ukraine and touched upon the topic of St. Andrew's Church.
During his visit to Kyiv, Metropolitan of Emmanuel (Adamakis) of France, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, reports “Orthodox Times”.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Deputy Minister Vasily Bodnar and "Archbishop" Yevstratiy Zoria (OCU), the parties discussed issues related to State-Church relations in Ukraine and the relations of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine with the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Phanar representative expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian government and also raised the issue of restoration works of St. Andrew's Church in Kyiv, which was previously transferred to the use of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
On the eve of the meeting with the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Metropolitan Emmanuel participated in the OCU memorial service for the victims of the hostilities in Eastern Ukraine. The ceremony took place in the courtyard of the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.
As reported, earlier the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko thanked the Phanar for assistance in gaining "spiritual independence".
