Decision on granting autocephaly to unite all Orthodox Ukrainians, - Patriarch Bartholomew

After signing the Cooperation Agreement between Ukraine and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Patriarch Bartholomew spoke to President Poroshenko and the Ukrainian people today in Istanbul

“We live today at a historic moment – the agreement on cooperation between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Ukraine was signed.

The right of the Orthodox of Ukraine to have an autocephalous Church and this desire that you have for many years is carried out these days. You were entitled to this, like other peoples who received autocephaly from our Church. It is the exclusive right of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to grant autocephaly and now it came to maturity. We are convinced that the decision on autocephaly will result in the unity of the Orthodox in Ukraine.

The Mother Church considers it expedient to grant Ukraine the right to autocephaly. This new Church will enter the family of the Orthodox Churches of the world,” the Ecumenical Patriarch said in his speech.

Bartholomew I thanked Petro Poroshenko for the visit and for the “beautiful St. Andrew Church that will host a permanent residence of the Mother Church in Ukraine.”