The European Congress of Ukrainians (ECU) requested Patriarch Bartholomew to establish a special church structure that would take care of Orthodox Ukrainians in European countries and would have close ties with the Ecumenical Throne and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
It was announced by Pavlo Sadokha, Vice-President of the World Congress of Ukrainians in Western Europe, Chairman of the Union of Ukrainians in Portugal, on his Facebook, Ukrinform reports.
The letter was sent directly to the Ecumenical (Constantinople) Patriarch during his visit to Spain and before the Divine Liturgy with Orthodox Ukrainians in Madrid.
“In this structure, the type of which, we believe, you will determine in the best way, we would like to experience a living connection with Constantinople and Kyiv, carefully preserve and develop our faith, good deeds, love for God and our Motherland — Ukraine. We believe and know that you, Your All Holiness, a faithful and firm friend of Ukraine, together with our Primate, His Beatitude Epiphanius Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine, will find the best solution to this issue,” the appeal says.
In his speech to Ukrainians, Patriarch Bartholomew said that he would visit Kyiv next year and plans to propose to Pope Francis to hold a joint meeting in Ukraine, Sadokha added.
Let us recall that during a visit to Estonia (September 12-20), dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the granting of the Tomos by the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew spoke with Ukrainian believers and wished victory to the Ukrainians in the struggle for freedom.