His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch recently visited Ukraine on 20-24 August, at the invitation of the President of Ukraine, Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Primate of the Church of Ukraine, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanios of Kiev and All Ukraine to partake in the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of Ukrainian Independence.

Upon his arrival at the Kyiv International Airport, having received the prescribed honors, the Ecumenical Patriarch was welcomed by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mr. Denys Shmyhal, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanios of Kiev and All Ukraine and a number of State, Government and Ecclesiastical officials as well as by the Ambassador of Greece to Ukraine, Mr. Vassilios Bornovas.

His All-Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Metropolitan Elder Emmanuel of Chacedon, Metropolitans Amphilochios of Adrianople, Stephanos of Philippi, Neapolis and Thassos, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Grigorios, Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, the Very Reverend Grand Synkellos Iakovos Krochak, the Very Reverend Patriarchal Deacon Ieronymos, Mr. Nikolaos Papachristou, Director of the Patriarchal Office of Press and Communication, and other associates.

On the evening of his arrival, the Ecumenical Patriarch had a meeting with the President of Ukraine, Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky, at the Presidential Palace followed by a formal dinner in honor of His All-Holiness.

On the next day, on 21 August, in the morning, the official Doxology was served at the Holy Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael and was followed by a meeting of His All-Holiness with His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanios of Kiev and All Ukraine Epiphany, at the Metropolitan’s Residence in Kyiv. On the evening on that day, the Ecumenical Patriarch visited the Stauropegion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Kyiv where he was welcomed by its head, His Grace Bishop Michael of Comana.

On Sunday, 22 August, in the morning, the two primates concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at the historical cathedral of Saint Sophia of Kyiv, with a large number of hierarchs and clergy, in the presence of numerous faithful.

On 23 August, the Ecumenical Patriarch met with the members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations where he was welcomed by the major archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk. At the end of the meeting of the Ecumenical Patriarch with the members of the Council, trees were planted in the park on Volodymyrska Hill. As well, as part of his visit, His All-Holiness was awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

On 24 August, in the morning, the Ecumenical Patriarch had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mr. Denys Shmyhal, at the Office of the Prime Minister, after which the Ecumenical Patriarch attended the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Ukrainian State as an official guest of the President of Ukraine. At the end of his visit to Ukraine, the Ecumenical Patriarch visited St. Michael’s Vydubychi Monastery, before leaving to the airport.